Patents by Inventor Dennis Keller

Dennis Keller has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7192829
    Abstract: Floating gate transistors and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a floating gate is formed over a substrate. The floating gate has an inner first portion and an outer second portion. Conductivity enhancing impurity is provided in the inner first portion to a greater concentration than conductivity enhancing impurity in the outer second portion. In another implementation, the floating gate is formed from a first layer of conductively doped semiconductive material and a second layer of substantially undoped semiconductive material. In another implementation, the floating gate is formed from a first material having a first average grain size and a second material having a second average grain size which is larger than the first average grain size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Dennis Keller, Roger R. Lee
  • Patent number: 7057285
    Abstract: An aluminum interconnect which extends adjacent to and is insulated from a stacked capacitor structure to facilitate electrical communication between an active device region of a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device structure and a bit line extending above the semiconductor substrate. The aluminum interconnect is disposed within a trench and may include a metal silicide layer adjacent the active device region to form a buried metal diffusion layer. The aluminum interconnect may also include a metal nitride layer disposed between the metal silicide and aluminum. The invention also includes methods of fabricating aluminum interconnects adjacent stacked capacitor structures and semiconductor device structures which include the aluminum interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruojia Lee, Ralph Kauffman, J. Dennis Keller
  • Patent number: 6885051
    Abstract: A method of forming minimally spaced apart MRAM structures is disclosed. A photolithography technique is employed to define patterns an integrated circuit, the width of which is further reduced by etching to allow formation of patterns used to etch digit line regions with optimum critical dimension between any of the two digit line regions. Subsequent pinned and sense layers of MRAM structures are formed over the minimally spaced digit regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Mark Durcan, Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ren Earl
  • Publication number: 20040195609
    Abstract: A method of forming minimally spaced apart MRAM structures is disclosed. A photolithography technique is employed to define patterns an integrated circuit, the width of which is further reduced by etching to allow formation of patterns used to etch digit line regions with optimum critical dimension between any of the two digit line regions. Subsequent pinned and sense layers of MRAM structures are formed over the minimally spaced digit regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: D. Mark Durcan, Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6791141
    Abstract: Floating gate transistors and methods of forming the same are described. In one implementation, a floating gate is formed over a substrate. The floating gate has an inner first portion and an outer second portion. Conductivity enhancing impurity is provided in the inner first portion to a greater concentration than conductivity enhancing impurity in the outer second portion. In another implementation, the floating gate is formed from a first layer of conductively doped semiconductive material and a second layer of substantially undoped semiconductive material. In another implementation, the floating gate is formed from a first material having a first average grain size and a second material having a second average grain size which is larger than the first average grain size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Dennis Keller, Roger R. Lee
  • Patent number: 6787428
    Abstract: An aluminum interconnect which extends adjacent to and is insulated from a stacked capacitor structure to facilitate electrical communication between an active device region of a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device structure and a bit line extending above the semiconductor substrate. The aluminum interconnect is disposed within a trench and may include a metal silicide layer adjacent the active device region to form a buried metal diffusion layer. The aluminum interconnect may also include a metal nitride layer disposed between the metal silicide and aluminum. The invention also includes methods of fabricating aluminum interconnects adjacent stacked capacitor structures and semiconductor device structures which include the aluminum interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruojia Lee, Ralph Kauffman, J. Dennis Keller
  • Patent number: 6765250
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of fabricating a trenchless MRAM structure and to the resultant MRAM structure. The MRAM structure of the invention has a pinned layer formed within protective sidewalls formed over a substrate. The protective sidewalls facilitate formation of the MRAM structure by a self-aligning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Gurtej Sandhu, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6750069
    Abstract: A method of forming minimally spaced apart MRAM structures is disclosed. A photolithography technique is employed to define patterns an integrated circuit, the width of which is further reduced by etching to allow formation of patterns used to etch digit line regions with optimum critical dimension between any of the two digit line regions. Subsequent pinned and sense layers of MRAM structures are formed over the minimally spaced digit regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Mark Durcan, Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6720605
    Abstract: An aluminum interconnect which extends adjacent to and is insulated from a stacked capacitor structure to facilitate electrical communication between an active device region of a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device structure and a bit line extending above the semiconductor substrate. The aluminum interconnect is disposed within a trench and may include a metal silicide layer adjacent the active device region to form a buried metal diffusion layer. The aluminum interconnect may also include a metal nitride layer disposed between the metal silicide and aluminum. The invention also includes methods of fabricating aluminum interconnects adjacent stacked capacitor structures and semiconductor device structures which include the aluminum interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruojia Lee, Ralph Kauffman, J. Dennis Keller
  • Patent number: 6689661
    Abstract: A method of forming minimally spaced apart MRAM structures is disclosed. A photolithography technique is employed to define patterns an integrated circuit, the width of which is further reduced by etching to allow formation of patterns used to etch digit line regions with optimum critical dimension between any of the two digit line regions. Subsequent pinned and sense layers of MRAM structures are formed over the minimally spaced digit regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Mark Durcan, Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6689624
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of fabricating a trenchless MRAM structure and to the resultant MRAM structure. The MRAM structure of the invention has a pinned layer formed within protective sidewalls formed over a substrate. The protective sidewalls facilitate formation of the MRAM structure by a self-aligning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Gurtej Sandhu, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6682943
    Abstract: A method of forming minimally spaced MRAM structures is disclosed. A photolithography technique is employed to define masking patterns, on the sidewalls of which spacers are subsequently formed to reduce the distance between any of the two adjacent masking patterns. A filler material is next used to fill in the space around the masking patterns and to form filler plugs. The masking patterns and the spacers are removed using the filler plugs as a hard mask. Digit and word lines of MRAM structures are subsequently formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. Mark Durcan, Gurtej Sandhu, Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6653154
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of fabricating an MRAM structure. The method includes forming a pinned layer within a protective region defined by sidewalls formed over a substrate. The protective sidewalls facilitate formation of the MRAM structure by a self-aligning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Gurtej Sandhu, Ren Earl
  • Publication number: 20030215961
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of fabricating a trenchless MRAM structure and to the resultant MRAM structure. The MRAM structure of the invention has a pinned layer formed within protective sidewalls formed over a substrate. The protective sidewalls facilitate formation of the MRAM structure by a self-aligning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Gurtej Sandhu, Ren Earl
  • Publication number: 20030207471
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method of fabricating a trenchless MRAM structure and to the resultant MRAM structure. The MRAM structure of the invention has a pinned layer formed within protective sidewalls formed over a substrate. The protective sidewalls facilitate formation of the MRAM structure by a self-aligning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Gurtej Sandhu, Ren Earl
  • Publication number: 20030199106
    Abstract: A method of forming minimally spaced apart MRAM structures is disclosed. A photolithography technique is employed to define patterns an integrated circuit, the width of which is further reduced by etching to allow formation of patterns used to etch digit line regions with optimum critical dimension between any of the two digit line regions. Subsequent pinned and sense layers of MRAM structures are formed over the minimally spaced digit regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: D. Mark Durcan, Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6521931
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a MRAM structure and the resulting structure. The MRAM structure of the invention has the pinned layer recessed within a trench with the upper magnetic layer positioned over it. The method of MRAM fabrication utilizes a spacer processing technique, whereby the upper magnetic layer of the MRAM stack structure is formed between the region defined by the spacers, thereby allowing for self-alignment of the upper magnetic layer over the underlying pinned magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej Sandhu, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Trung T. Doan, Max F. Hineman, Ren Earl
  • Patent number: 6489244
    Abstract: A method of making a fuse and a fuse, together with systems and integrated circuits where the fuse provides benefits, are described. A fuse comprising a conductive material is formed on a substrate. A series of dielectric layers having a composite thickness is formed on the substrate and the fuse. The series of dielectric layers serves to insulate a series of conductive layers from each other. The conductive layers are disposed above portions of the substrate. An opening is formed extending through a passivation layer and the series of dielectric layers. The opening exposes a portion of the fuse. Another dielectric layer is formed on the fuse and the fuse may thereafter be programmed by directing a laser beam onto the fuse through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ralph Kauffman
  • Publication number: 20020177272
    Abstract: An aluminum interconnect which extends adjacent to and is insulated from a stacked capacitor structure to facilitate electrical communication between an active device region of a semiconductor substrate of a semiconductor device structure and a bit line extending above the semiconductor substrate. The aluminum interconnect is disposed within a trench and may include a metal silicide layer adjacent the active device region to form a buried metal diffusion layer. The aluminum interconnect may also include a metal nitride layer disposed between the metal silicide and aluminum. The invention also includes methods of fabricating aluminum interconnects adjacent stacked capacitor structures and semiconductor device structures which include the aluminum interconnects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Inventors: Ruojia Lee, Ralph Kauffman, J. Dennis Keller
  • Publication number: 20020160541
    Abstract: A method of forming minimally spaced MRAM structures is disclosed. A photolithography technique is employed to define masking patterns, on the sidewalls of which spacers are subsequently formed to reduce the distance between any of the two adjacent masking patterns. A filler material is next used to fill in the space around the masking patterns and to form filler plugs. The masking patterns and the spacers are removed using the filler plugs as a hard mask. Digit and word lines of MRAM structures are subsequently formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventors: D. Mark Durcan, Gurtej Sandhu, Trung T. Doan, Roger Lee, Dennis Keller, Ren Earl