公开(公告)号：US11011236B2

公开(公告)日：2021-05-18

申请号：US16555050

申请日：2019-08-29

Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Inventor： Giovanni Maria Paolucci ,  Paolo Tessariol ,  Emilio Camerlenghi ,  Gianpietro Carnevale ,  Augusto Benvenuti

IPC: G11C16/16 ,  G11C16/30 ,  G11C16/04 ,  G11C16/24

Abstract: Methods of operating a memory, and memory configured to perform similar methods, might include applying a positive first voltage level to a first node selectively connected to a string of series-connected memory cells while applying a negative second voltage level to a control gate of a transistor connected between the first node and the string of series-connected memory cells, and increasing the voltage level applied to the first node to a third voltage level while increasing the voltage level applied to the control gate of the transistor to a fourth voltage level lower than the third voltage level and higher than the first voltage level.

公开(公告)号：US20210125919A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-29

申请号：US16663683

申请日：2019-10-25

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Vladimir Machkaoutsan ,  Pieter Blomme ,  Emilio Camerlenghi ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Jian Li ,  Ryan L. Meyer ,  Paolo Tessariol

IPC: H01L23/522 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582

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. First dummy pillars in the memory blocks extend through at least a majority of the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers through which the channel-material strings extend. Second dummy pillars are laterally-between and longitudinally-spaced-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks. The second dummy pillars extend through at least a majority of the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers through which the operative channel-material strings extend laterally-between the immediately-laterally-adjacent memory blocks. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20210098493A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-01

申请号：US17121441

申请日：2020-12-14

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Paolo Tessariol ,  Yoshiaki Fukuzumi

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11573 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11575 ,  H01L27/11565

Abstract: In an example of forming a stacked memory array, a stack of alternating first and second dielectrics is formed. A dielectric extension is formed through the stack such that a first portion of the dielectric extension is in a first region of the stack between a first group of semiconductor structures and a second group of semiconductor structures in a second region of the stack and a second portion of the dielectric extension extends into a third region of the stack that does not include the first and second semiconductor structures. An opening is formed through the first region, while the dielectric extension couples the alternating first and second dielectrics in the third region to the alternating first and second dielectrics in the second region.

公开(公告)号：US10263007B2

公开(公告)日：2019-04-16

申请号：US16002129

申请日：2018-06-07

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Justin B. Dorhout ,  Kunal R. Parekh ,  Matthew Park ,  Joseph Neil Greeley ,  Chet E. Carter ,  Martin C. Roberts ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Vinayak Shamanna ,  Ryan Meyer ,  Paolo Tessariol

IPC: H01L21/336 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11573

Abstract: An array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells, where the memory cells individually comprise a programmable charge storage transistor, comprises a substrate comprising a first region containing memory cells and a second region not containing memory cells laterally of the first region. The first region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of insulative material and control gate material. The second region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of different composition insulating materials laterally of the first region. A channel pillar comprising semiconductive channel material extends elevationally through multiple of the vertically-alternating tiers within the first region. Tunnel insulator, programmable charge storage material, and control gate blocking insulator are between the channel pillar and the control gate material of individual of the tiers of the control gate material within the first region. Conductive vias extend elevationally through the vertically-alternating tiers in the second region. An elevationally-extending wall is laterally between the first and second regions. The wall comprises the programmable charge storage material and the semiconductive channel material. Other embodiments and aspects, including method, are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20190081061A1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-14

申请号：US15705179

申请日：2017-09-14

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Paolo Tessariol ,  Justin B. Dorhout ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Jun Fang ,  Matthew Park ,  Zhiqiang Xie ,  Scott D. Stull ,  Daniel Osterberg ,  Jason Reece ,  Jian Li

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L21/311 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L29/10 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L23/528

Abstract: A device comprises an array of elevationally-extending transistors and a circuit structure adjacent and electrically coupled to the elevationally-extending transistors of the array. The circuit structure comprises a stair step structure comprising vertically-alternating tiers comprising conductive steps that are at least partially elevationally separated from one another by insulative material. Operative conductive vias individually extend elevationally through one of the conductive steps at least to a bottom of the vertically-alternating tiers and individually electrically couple to an electronic component below the vertically-alternating tiers. Dummy structures individually extend elevationally through one of the conductive steps at least to the bottom of the vertically-alternating tiers. Methods are also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20180204799A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-19

申请号：US15916575

申请日：2018-03-09

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Paolo Tessariol ,  Graham R. Wolstenholme ,  Aaron Yip

IPC: H01L23/528 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L27/11575 ,  H01L27/11517 ,  H01L27/11548 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11524

CPC classification number: H01L23/5283 ,  H01L21/76816 ,  H01L21/76877 ,  H01L23/5226 ,  H01L27/11517 ,  H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11548 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11575

Abstract: Conductive structures include stair step structures positioned along a length of the conductive structure and at least one landing comprising at least one via extending through the conductive structure. The at least one landing is positioned between a first stair step structure of the stair step structures and a second stair step structure of the stair step structures. Devices may include such conductive structures. Systems may include a semiconductor device and stair step structures separated by at least one landing having at least one via formed in the at least one landing. Methods of forming conductive structures include forming at least one via through a landing positioned between stair step structures.

公开(公告)号：US20180151415A1

公开(公告)日：2018-05-31

申请号：US15881539

申请日：2018-01-26

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Roberto Somaschini ,  Alessandro Vaccaro ,  Paolo Tessariol ,  Giulio Albini

IPC: H01L21/768 ,  H01L27/105

CPC classification number: H01L21/76807 ,  H01L21/76808 ,  H01L21/76811 ,  H01L21/76816 ,  H01L21/7684 ,  H01L21/76877 ,  H01L21/76895 ,  H01L23/5226 ,  H01L23/5283 ,  H01L27/1052 ,  H01L27/11521 ,  H01L2924/0002 ,  H01L2924/00

Abstract: Array contacts for semiconductor memories may be formed using a first set of parallel stripe masks and subsequently a second set of parallel stripe masks transverse to the first set. For example, one set of masks may be utilized to etch a dielectric layer, to form parallel spaced trenches. Then the trenches may be filled with a sacrificial material. That sacrificial material may then be masked transversely to its length and etched, for example. The resulting openings may be filled with a metal to form array contacts.

公开(公告)号：US09899254B2

公开(公告)日：2018-02-20

申请号：US15471420

申请日：2017-03-28

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Roberto Somaschini ,  Alessandro Vaccaro ,  Paolo Tessariol ,  Giulio Albini

IPC: H01L21/768 ,  H01L27/105

CPC classification number: H01L21/76807 ,  H01L21/76808 ,  H01L21/76811 ,  H01L21/76816 ,  H01L21/7684 ,  H01L21/76877 ,  H01L21/76895 ,  H01L23/5226 ,  H01L23/5283 ,  H01L27/1052 ,  H01L27/11521 ,  H01L2924/0002 ,  H01L2924/00

Abstract: Array contacts for semiconductor memories may be formed using a first set of parallel stripe masks and subsequently a second set of parallel stripe masks transverse to the first set. For example, one set of masks may be utilized to etch a dielectric layer, to form parallel spaced trenches. Then the trenches may be filled with a sacrificial material. That sacrificial material may then be masked transversely to its length and etched, for example. The resulting openings may be filled with a metal to form array contacts.

公开(公告)号：US20180047739A1

公开(公告)日：2018-02-15

申请号：US15231950

申请日：2016-08-09

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Justin B. Dorhout ,  Kunal R. Parekh ,  Matthew Park ,  Joseph Neil Greeley ,  Chet E. Carter ,  Martin C. Roberts ,  Indra V. Chary ,  Vinayak Shamanna ,  Ryan Meyer ,  Paolo Tessariol

IPC: H01L27/115

CPC classification number: H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11565 ,  H01L27/11573 ,  H01L27/11582

Abstract: An array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells, where the memory cells individually comprise a programmable charge storage transistor, comprises a substrate comprising a first region containing memory cells and a second region not containing memory cells laterally of the first region. The first region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of insulative material and control gate material. The second region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of different composition insulating materials laterally of the first region. A channel pillar comprising semiconductive channel material extends elevationally through multiple of the vertically-alternating tiers within the first region. Tunnel insulator, programmable charge storage material, and control gate blocking insulator are between the channel pillar and the control gate material of individual of the tiers of the control gate material within the first region. Conductive vias extend elevationally through the vertically-alternating tiers in the second region. An elevationally-extending wall is laterally between the first and second regions. The wall comprises the programmable charge storage material and the semiconductive channel material. Other embodiments and aspects, including method, are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20250140324A1

公开(公告)日：2025-05-01

申请号：US19010407

申请日：2025-01-06

Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Inventor： Giovanni Maria Paolucci ,  Paolo Tessariol ,  Emilio Camerlenghi ,  Gianpietro Carnevale ,  Augusto Benvenuti

IPC: G11C16/16 ,  G11C16/04 ,  G11C16/24 ,  G11C16/30

Abstract: Memories having a controller configured to increase a voltage level applied to a data line and decrease a voltage level applied to a control gate of a transistor connected between the data line and a string of series-connected memory cells during a first period of time, increase the voltage level applied to the data line and increase the voltage level applied to the control gate of the transistor at a same rate in response to an end of the first period of time, and ceasing increasing the voltage level applied to the data line and ceasing increasing the voltage level applied to the control gate of the transistor in response to the voltage level applied to the data line reaching a predetermined voltage level.