公开(公告)号：US20230320091A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-05

申请号：US17713913

申请日：2022-04-05

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Jeffrey Ehorn ,  John D. Hopkins

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556

CPC classification number: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556

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 directly above conductor material of a conductor tier. Channel-material-string constructions extend through the insulative and conductive tiers to a lowest of the conductive tiers. The channel-material-string constructions individually comprise a charge-blocking-material string, a storage-material string laterally-inward of the charge-blocking-material string, a charge-passage-material string laterally-inward of the storage-material string, and a channel-material string laterally-inward of the charge-passage-material string. A lowest surface of the charge-blocking-material string that is above a lowest surface of the lowest conductive tier is below a lowest surface of a lowest of the insulative tiers that is immediately-above the lowest conductive tier. Conductive material in the lowest conductive tier directly electrically couples together the channel material of individual of the channel-material strings and the conductor material of the conductor tier. Structure independent of method is disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US11737278B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-22

申请号：US17714924

申请日：2022-04-06

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Chet E. Carter

IPC: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/822 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/35

CPC classification number: H10B43/27 ,  H01L21/8221 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/35

Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprises forming a substrate comprising a conductor tier comprising an upper conductor material and a lower conductor material, and a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers above the conductor tier. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed through the stack to the upper conductor material and the lower conductor material. At least one of the upper and lower conductor materials have an exposed catalytic surface in the trenches. Metal material is electrolessly deposited onto the catalytic surface to cover the upper conductor material and the lower conductor material within the trenches. Channel-material strings of memory cells are formed and extend through the second tiers and the first tiers. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20220157843A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-19

申请号：US17590052

申请日：2022-02-01

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Chet E. Carter

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

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 above a substrate. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed into the stack to form laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Catalytic material is formed in a bottom region of individual of the trenches. Metal material is electrolessly deposited onto a catalytic surface of the catalytic material to individually fill at least a majority of remaining volume of the individual trenches. Channel-material strings are formed and extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20220005819A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-06

申请号：US16921641

申请日：2020-07-06

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Shyam Surthi ,  Matthew Thorum

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

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. The second tiers comprise doped silicon dioxide and the first tiers comprise a material other than doped silicon dioxide. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Channel-material-string constructions extend through the first tiers and the second tiers in the memory-block regions. The channel-material-string constructions individually comprise a channel-material string that extends through the first tiers and the second tiers in the memory-block regions. The doped silicon dioxide that is in the second tiers is etched selectively relative to said other material that is in the first tiers and selectively relative to and to expose an undoped silicon dioxide-comprising string of a charge-blocking material that is part of individual of the channel-material-string constructions. The undoped silicon dioxide-comprising strings are etched through the void space in the second tiers left by the etching of the doped silicon dioxide to divide individual of the undoped silicon dioxide-comprising strings into vertically-spaced segments of the undoped silicon dioxide. Structure independent of method is disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20210167089A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-03

申请号：US17177357

申请日：2021-02-17

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Changhan Kim ,  Richard J. Hill ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Collin Howder

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11524

Abstract: A memory array comprises a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The wordline tiers comprise gate regions of individual memory cells. The gate regions individually comprise part of a wordline in individual of the wordline tiers. Channel material extends elevationally through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. The individual memory cells comprise a memory structure laterally between the gate region and the channel material. Individual of the wordlines comprise opposing laterally-outer longitudinal edges. The longitudinal edges individually comprise a longitudinally-elongated recess extending laterally into the respective individual wordline. Methods are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20210151454A1

公开(公告)日：2021-05-20

申请号：US17160956

申请日：2021-01-28

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Bharat Bhushan ,  Chris M. Carlson ,  Collin Howder

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  G11C8/14 ,  G11C16/04 ,  G06F3/06 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11529 ,  H01L27/11558 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11573 ,  H01L27/11524

Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. First charge-blocking material is formed to extend elevationally along the vertically-alternating tiers. The first charge-blocking material has k of at least 7.0 and comprises a metal oxide. A second charge-blocking material is formed laterally inward of the first charge-blocking material. The second charge-blocking material has k less than 7.0. Storage material is formed laterally inward of the second charge-blocking material. Insulative charge-passage material is formed laterally inward of the storage material. Channel material is formed to extend elevationally along the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers laterally inward of the insulative charge-passage material. Structure embodiments are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20200266204A1

公开(公告)日：2020-08-20

申请号：US16869194

申请日：2020-05-07

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Gordon A. Haller

IPC: H01L27/11556 ,  G11C5/06 ,  H01L27/11558 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11524

Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprises forming a substrate comprising a conductive tier, a first insulator tier above the conductive tier, a sacrificial material tier above the first insulator tier, and a second insulator tier above the sacrificial material tier. A stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers is formed above the second insulator tier. Channel material is formed through the insulative tiers and the wordline tier. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed through the stack to the sacrificial material tier. Sacrificial material is etched through the horizontally-elongated trenches selectively relative to material of the first insulator tier and selectively relative to material of the second insulator tier. A laterally-outer sidewall of the channel material is exposed in the sacrificial material tier. A conductive structure is formed directly against the laterally-outer sidewall of the channel material in the sacrificial material tier. The conductive structure extends through the first insulator tier and directly electrically couples the channel material to the conductive tier. Structure embodiments are disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US10573661B2

公开(公告)日：2020-02-25

申请号：US16363296

申请日：2019-03-25

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Jordan D. Greenlee ,  Chet E. Carter ,  Collin Howder ,  John Mark Meldrim ,  Everett A. McTeer

IPC: H01L27/11582 ,  H01L21/3213 ,  H01L29/10 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L23/532 ,  H01L21/285 ,  H01L23/528 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L21/28 ,  H01L29/49 ,  H01L27/11519 ,  H01L27/11565

Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated structure. An assembly is formed to include a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels have insulative material, and the second levels have voids which extend horizontally. The assembly includes channel material structures extending through the stack. A first metal-containing material is deposited within the voids to partially fill the voids. The deposited first metal-containing material is etched to remove some of the first metal-containing material from within the partially-filled voids. Second metal-containing material is then deposited to fill the voids.

公开(公告)号：US10236301B1

公开(公告)日：2019-03-19

申请号：US15890503

申请日：2018-02-07

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Collin Howder ,  Ryan M. Meyer ,  Chet E. Carter

IPC: H01L27/11524 ,  H01L27/11582 ,  H01L27/11556 ,  H01L27/1157 ,  H01L23/522 ,  H01L21/02 ,  H01L23/532 ,  H01L21/768 ,  H01L21/3205

Abstract: A method of forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming conductively-doped semiconductor material directly above and electrically coupled to metal material. A stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers is formed directly above the conductively-doped semiconductor material. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed through the stack to the conductively-doped semiconductor material. The conductively-doped semiconductor material is oxidized through the trenches to form an oxide therefrom that is directly above the metal material. Transistor channel material is provided to extend elevationally along the alternating tiers. The wordline tiers are provided to comprise control-gate material having terminal ends corresponding to control-gate regions of individual memory cells. Charge-storage material is between the transistor channel material and the control-gate regions. Insulative charge-passage material is 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：US20250166704A1

公开(公告)日：2025-05-22

申请号：US19027291

申请日：2025-01-17

Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Alyssa N. Scarbrough ,  John D. Hopkins ,  Collin Howder ,  Jordan D. Greenlee

IPC: G11C16/04 ,  H10B41/10 ,  H10B41/27 ,  H10B41/35 ,  H10B43/10 ,  H10B43/27 ,  H10B43/35

Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a lower portion of a stack that will comprise vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Material of the first tiers is of different composition from material of the second tiers. The lower portion comprises an upper second tier comprising insulative material. The vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers of an upper portion of the stack are formed above the lower portion. Channel-material strings are formed that extend through the upper portion to the lower portion. Horizontally-elongated lines are formed in the upper second tier longitudinally-along opposing lateral edges of the memory-block regions. Material of the lines is of different composition from that of the insulative material in the upper second tier that is laterally-between the lines. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed into the stack that are individually between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory-block regions and that extend through the upper portion to the lower portion. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.