Patents by Inventor James Kai

James Kai 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: 11201107
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a carrier substrate. Memory stack structures vertically extend through the alternating stack. Each memory stack structure includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film. A pass-through via structure vertically extends through a dielectric material portion that is adjacent to the alternating stack. The memory die can be bonded to a logic die containing peripheral circuitry for supporting operations of memory cells within the memory die. A distal end of each of the vertical semiconductor channels is physically exposed by removing the carrier substrate. A source layer is formed directly on the distal end each of the vertical semiconductor channels. A backside bonding pad or bonding wire is formed to be electrically connected to the pass-through via structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Teruo Okina, Akio Nishida, James Kai
  • Patent number: 11195857
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device may include an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers formed over a carrier substrate. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are subsequently replaced with, electrically conductive layers. Memory stack structures are formed through the alternating stack. Each memory stack structure includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film. Drain regions and bit lines can be formed over the memory stack structures to provide a memory die. The memory die can be bonded to a logic die containing peripheral circuitry for supporting operations of memory cells within the memory die. A distal end of each of the vertical semiconductor channels is physically exposed by removing the carrier substrate. A source layer is formed directly on the distal end each of the vertical semiconductor channels. A bonding pad can be formed on the source layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Ching-Huang Lu, Murshed Chowdhury, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 11195781
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a carrier substrate. Memory stack structures vertically extend through the alternating stack. Each memory stack structure includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film. A pass-through via structure vertically extends through a dielectric material portion that is adjacent to the alternating stack. The memory die can be bonded to a logic die containing peripheral circuitry for supporting operations of memory cells within the memory die. A distal end of each of the vertical semiconductor channels is physically exposed by removing the carrier substrate. A source layer is formed directly on the distal end each of the vertical semiconductor channels. A backside bonding pad or bonding wire is formed to be electrically connected to the pass-through via structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Teruo Okina, Akio Nishida, James Kai
  • Publication number: 20210358946
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, memory opening fill structures located within a respective one of the memory openings, and at least one drain-select-level isolation structure vertically extending through at least a topmost electrically conductive layer among the electrically conductive layers. The at least one drain-select-level isolation structure may include wiggles and cut through upper portions of at least some of the memory opening fill structures, or may include a vertically-extending dielectric material portion and laterally-protruding dielectric material portions adjoined to the vertically-extending dielectric material portion and laterally protruding into lateral recesses located adjacent to the at least the topmost electrically conductive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: Srinivas PULUGURTHA, Johann ALSMEIER, Yanli ZHANG, James KAI
  • Publication number: 20210335805
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of word lines and at least one insulating layers or air gaps located over a substrate, a memory opening fill structure extending through the alternating stack. The memory opening fill structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. The word lines are thicker than the insulating layers or air gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: James KAI, Senaka KANAKAMEDALA, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20210335999
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of word lines and at least one insulating layers or air gaps located over a substrate, a memory opening fill structure extending through the alternating stack. The memory opening fill structure includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. The word lines are thicker than the insulating layers or air gaps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: James KAI, Senaka KANAKAMEDALA, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Patent number: 11127729
    Abstract: A first wafer including a first substrate, first semiconductor devices overlying the first substrate, and first dielectric material layers overlying the first semiconductor devices is provided. A sacrificial material layer is formed over a top surface of a second wafer including a second substrate. Second semiconductor devices and second dielectric material layers are formed over a top surface of the sacrificial material layer. The second wafer is attached to the first wafer such that the second dielectric material layers face the first dielectric material layers. A plurality of voids is formed through the second substrate. The sacrificial material layer is removed by providing an etchant that etches a material of the sacrificial material layer through the plurality of voids. The substrate is detached from a bonded assembly including the first wafer, the second semiconductor devices, and the second dielectric material layers upon removal of the sacrificial material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Murshed Chowdhury, Koichi Matsuno, Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20210210503
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack, wherein each of the memory stack structures comprises a vertical semiconductor channel and a vertical stack of memory elements, a dielectric moat structure vertically extending through the alternating stack and including an annular dielectric plate portion at each level of the electrically conductive layers that laterally surrounds a respective dielectric material plate, and an interconnection via structure laterally surrounded by the dielectric moat structure and vertically extending through each insulating layer within the alternating stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi MATSUNO, James KAI, Jixin YU, Johann ALSMEIER, Yoshitaka OTSU
  • Patent number: 11043455
    Abstract: A vertically alternating sequence of continuous insulating layers and continuous sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. Memory stack structures are formed through the vertically alternating sequence. The vertically alternating sequence is divided into alternating stacks of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers by forming backside trenches therethrough. Each neighboring pair of alternating stacks is laterally spaced apart from each other by a respective backside trench. The sacrificial material layers are replaced with multipart layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Johann Alsmeier, Jixin Yu
  • Patent number: 11037943
    Abstract: An array of memory stack structures extends through an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers. The drain-select-level assemblies may be provided by forming drain-select-level openings through a drain-select-level sacrificial material layer, and by forming a combination of a cylindrical electrode portion and a first gate dielectric mayin each first drain-select-level opening while forming a second gate dielectric directly on a sidewall of each second drain-select-level opening in a second subset of the drain-select-level openings. A strip electrode portion is formed by replacing the drain-select-level sacrificial material layer with a conductive material. Structures filling the second subset of the drain-select-level openings may be used as dummy structures at a periphery of an array. The dummy structures are free of gate electrodes and thus prevents a leakage current therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Muneyuki Imai, James Kai
  • Patent number: 11018153
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of source layers and drain layers located over a substrate, gate electrodes vertically extending through each of the source layers and the drain layers of the alternating stack, memory films laterally surrounding a respective one of the gate electrodes, and semiconductor channels laterally surrounding a respective one of the memory films and connected to a respective vertically neighboring pair of a source layer and a drain layer. An array of memory openings can vertically extend through the alternating stack, and each of the gate electrodes can be located within a respective one of the memory openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Johann Alsmeier, Murshed Chowdhury
  • Patent number: 10985169
    Abstract: A memory die including a three-dimensional array of memory elements and a logic die including a peripheral circuitry that support operation of the three-dimensional array of memory elements can be bonded by die-to-die bonding to provide a bonded assembly. External bonding pads for the bonded assembly can be provided by forming recess regions through the memory die or through the logic die to physically expose metal interconnect structures within interconnect-level dielectric layers. The external bonding pads can include, or can be formed upon, a physically exposed subset of the metal interconnect structures. Alternatively or additionally, laterally-insulated external connection via structures can be formed through the bonded assembly to multiple levels of the metal interconnect structures. Further, through-dielectric external connection via structures extending through a stepped dielectric material portion of the memory die can be physically exposed, and external bonding pads can be formed thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Murshed Chowdhury, Koichi Matsuno, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 10950626
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of source layers and drain layers located over a substrate, gate electrodes vertically extending through each of the source layers and the drain layers of the alternating stack, memory films laterally surrounding a respective one of the gate electrodes, and semiconductor channels laterally surrounding a respective one of the memory films and connected to a respective vertically neighboring pair of a source layer and a drain layer. An array of memory openings can vertically extend through the alternating stack, and each of the gate electrodes can be located within a respective one of the memory openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Johann Alsmeier, Murshed Chowdhury, Raiden Matsuno
  • Patent number: 10943917
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and memory pillar structures extending through the alternating stack. Each of the memory pillar structures includes a respective memory film and a respective vertical semiconductor channel. Dielectric cores contact an inner sidewall of a respective one of the vertical semiconductor channels. A drain-select-level isolation structure laterally extends along a first horizontal direction and contacts straight sidewalls of the dielectric cores at a respective two-dimensional flat interface. The memory pillar structures may be formed on-pitch as a two-dimensional periodic array, and themay drain-select-level isolation structure may cut through upper portions of the memory pillar structures to minimize areas occupied by the drain-select-level isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Takaaki Iwai, Makoto Koto, Sayako Nagamine, Ching-Huang Lu, Wei Zhao, Yanli Zhang, James Kai
  • Publication number: 20210050360
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of source layers and drain layers located over a substrate, gate electrodes vertically extending through each of the source layers and the drain layers of the alternating stack, memory films laterally surrounding a respective one of the gate electrodes, and semiconductor channels laterally surrounding a respective one of the memory films and connected to a respective vertically neighboring pair of a source layer and a drain layer. An array of memory openings can vertically extend through the alternating stack, and each of the gate electrodes can be located within a respective one of the memory openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: James KAI, Johann ALSMEIER, Murshed CHOWDHURY, Raiden MATSUNO
  • Publication number: 20210050359
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of source layers and drain layers located over a substrate, gate electrodes vertically extending through each of the source layers and the drain layers of the alternating stack, memory films laterally surrounding a respective one of the gate electrodes, and semiconductor channels laterally surrounding a respective one of the memory films and connected to a respective vertically neighboring pair of a source layer and a drain layer. An array of memory openings can vertically extend through the alternating stack, and each of the gate electrodes can be located within a respective one of the memory openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: James KAI, Johann ALSMEIER, Murshed CHOWDHURY
  • Publication number: 20210035965
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a carrier substrate. Memory stack structures vertically extend through the alternating stack. Each memory stack structure includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film. The memory die can be bonded to a logic die containing peripheral circuitry for supporting operations of memory cells within the memory die. A distal end of each of the vertical semiconductor channels is physically exposed by removing the carrier substrate. A source layer is formed directly on the distal end each of the vertical semiconductor channels. A source power supply network can be formed on the backside of the source layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: Yuki MIZUTANI, Masaaki HIGASHITANI, James KAI
  • Publication number: 20210028111
    Abstract: A vertically alternating sequence of continuous insulating layers and continuous sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. Memory stack structures are formed through the vertically alternating sequence. The vertically alternating sequence is divided into alternating stacks of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers by forming backside trenches therethrough. Each neighboring pair of alternating stacks is laterally spaced apart from each other by a respective backside trench. The sacrificial material layers are replaced with multipart layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: James KAI, Johann Alsmeier, Jixin YU
  • Publication number: 20210005617
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and an array of memory opening fill structures extending through the alternating stack, an array of drain-select-level assemblies overlying the alternating stack and having a same two-dimensional periodicity as the array of memory opening fill structures, a first strip electrode portion laterally surrounding a first set of multiple rows of drain-select-level assemblies within the array of drain-select-level assemblies, and a drain-select-level isolation strip including an isolation dielectric that contacts the first strip electrode portion and laterally spaced from the drain-select-level assemblies and extending between the first strip electrode portion and a second strip electrode portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: James KAI, Murshed CHOWDHURY, Masaaki HIGASHITANI, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Patent number: 10840260
    Abstract: An alternating stack of insulating layers and dielectric spacer layers is formed over a semiconductor substrate. Memory stack structures are formed through the alternating stack. Backside trenches, a moat trench, and a contact opening are formed through the alternating stack, and are subsequently filled with sacrificial backside trench fill material structures, a sacrificial moat trench fill structure, and a sacrificial contact opening fill structure, respectively. The sacrificial moat trench fill structure is replaced with tubular dielectric wall structure. Portions of the dielectric spacer layers located outside the tubular dielectric wall structure are replaced with electrically conductive layers. The sacrificial backside trench fill material structures are replaced with backside trench fill structures. The sacrificial contact opening fill structure is replaced with a conductive via structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Murshed Chowdhury, Fumiaki Toyama, Johann Alsmeier, Masaaki Higashitani