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).

  • Publication number: 20200357783
    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: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: James Kai, Murshed Chowdhury, Koichi Matsuno, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 10825827
    Abstract: A non-volatile storage apparatus comprises a non-volatile memory structure and an I/O interface. A portion of the memory die is used as a pool capacitor for the I/O interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Mohan Dunga, James Kai, Venkatesh P. Ramachandra, Piyush Dak, Luisa Lin, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Patent number: 10818685
    Abstract: A non-volatile storage apparatus comprises a non-volatile memory structure and an I/O interface. A portion of the memory die is used as a pool capacitor for the I/O interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Mohan Dunga, James Kai, Venkatesh P. Ramachandra, Piyush Dak, Luisa Lin, Masaaki Higashitani
  • Publication number: 20200286905
    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: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: James KAI, Murshed CHOWDHURY, Koichi MATSUNO, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Patent number: 10748927
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, first memory opening fill structures extending through the alternating stack, where each of the first memory opening fill structures includes a respective first drain region, a respective first memory film, a respective first vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the respective first memory film, and a respective first dielectric core, and a drain-select-level isolation structure having a pair of straight lengthwise sidewalls that extend along a first horizontal direction and contact straight sidewalls of the first memory opening fill structures. Each first vertical semiconductor channel includes a tubular section that underlies a horizontal plane including a bottom surface of the drain-select-level isolation structure and a semi-tubular section overlying the tubular section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Masanori Tsutsumi, Shigehisa Inoue, Tomohiro Kubo, James Kai
  • Patent number: 10748894
    Abstract: A memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, source regions located on, or in, the substrate, and at least one memory-side bonding pad electrically connected to the source regions. A logic die includes a power supply circuit configured to generate a supply voltage for the source regions, and at least one logic-side bonding pad electrically connected to the power supply circuit through a network of logic-side metal interconnect structures. The memory die is bonded to the logic die. The network of logic-side metal interconnect structures distributes source power from the power supply circuit over an entire area of the memory stack structures and transmits the source power to the memory die through bonded pairs of memory-side bonding pads and logic-side bonding pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Murshed Chowdhury, Kwang-Ho Kim, James Kai, Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20200258904
    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: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: James KAI, Ching-Huang LU, Murshed CHOWDHURY, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20200258817
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Teruo OKINA, Akio NISHIDA, James KAI
  • Publication number: 20200258816
    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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Teruo OKINA, Akio NISHIDA, James KAI
  • Publication number: 20200251488
    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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Takaaki IWAI, Makoto KOTO, Sayako NAGAMINE, Ching-Huang LU, Wei ZHAO, Yanli ZHANG, James KAI
  • Publication number: 20200251489
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, first memory opening fill structures extending through the alternating stack, where each of the first memory opening fill structures includes a respective first drain region, a respective first memory film, a respective first vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the respective first memory film, and a respective first dielectric core, and a drain-select-level isolation structure having a pair of straight lengthwise sidewalls that extend along a first horizontal direction and contact straight sidewalls of the first memory opening fill structures. Each first vertical semiconductor channel includes a tubular section that underlies a horizontal plane including a bottom surface of the drain-select-level isolation structure and a semi-tubular section overlying the tubular section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Masanori TSUTSUMI, Shigehisa INOUE, Tomohiro KUBO, James KAI
  • Patent number: 10727216
    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: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Murshed Chowdhury, Koichi Matsuno, Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20200235120
    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: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: James KAI, Murshed CHOWDHURY, Fumiaki TOYAMA, Johann ALSMEIER, Masaaki HIGASHITANI
  • Publication number: 20200235090
    Abstract: A memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, source regions located on, or in, the substrate, and at least one memory-side bonding pad electrically connected to the source regions. A logic die includes a power supply circuit configured to generate a supply voltage for the source regions, and at least one logic-side bonding pad electrically connected to the power supply circuit through a network of logic-side metal interconnect structures. The memory die is bonded to the logic die. The network of logic-side metal interconnect structures distributes source power from the power supply circuit over an entire area of the memory stack structures and transmits the source power to the memory die through bonded pairs of memory-side bonding pads and logic-side bonding pads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Murshed CHOWDHURY, Kwang-Ho KIM, James KAI, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Patent number: 10685978
    Abstract: Electrical isolation between adjacent stripes of drain-select-level electrically conductive layers can be provided by forming a drain-select-level isolation structure between neighboring rows of memory stack structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure can partially cut through upper regions of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures. Vertical semiconductor channels of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures include a lower tubular segment and an upper semi-tubular segment that contact the drain-select-level isolation structure. Electrical current through drain select levels is limited to the semi-tubular segment of each vertical semiconductor channel. Alternatively, the drain-select-level isolation structure can be formed around the memory stack structures within the neighboring rows of memory stack structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Ching-Huang Lu, Wei Zhao, Yanli Zhang, James Kai
  • Patent number: 10685979
    Abstract: Electrical isolation between adjacent stripes of drain-select-level electrically conductive layers can be provided by forming a drain-select-level isolation structure between neighboring rows of memory stack structures. The drain-select-level isolation structure can partially cut through upper regions of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures. Vertical semiconductor channels of the neighboring rows of memory stack structures include a lower tubular segment and an upper semi-tubular segment that contact the drain-select-level isolation structure. Electrical current through drain select levels is limited to the semi-tubular segment of each vertical semiconductor channel. Alternatively, the drain-select-level isolation structure can be formed around the memory stack structures within the neighboring rows of memory stack structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Ching-Huang Lu, Wei Zhao, Yanli Zhang, James Kai
  • Patent number: 10629616
    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: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Ching-Huang Lu, Murshed Chowdhury, Johann Alsmeier
  • Patent number: 10622369
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes semiconductor devices located on a semiconductor substrate, lower interconnect level dielectric layers embedding lower interconnect structures, an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers overlying the lower interconnect level dielectric layers and including stepped surfaces, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack, and contact via structures extending downward from the stepped surfaces through underlying portions of the alternating stack to the lower interconnect structures. Each of the contact via structures laterally contacts an electrically conductive layer located at the stepped surfaces, and provides electrical interconnection to an underlying semiconductor device. A top portion of each contact via structures contacts an electrically conductive layer, and is electrically isolated from other underlying electrically conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Fei Zhou, Raghuveer S. Makala, Hiroyuki Kinoshita, Yanli Zhang, James Kai, Johann Alsmeier, Stephen Ross, Senaka Kanakamedala
  • Patent number: 10622368
    Abstract: Azimuthally-split metal-semiconductor alloy floating gate electrodes can be formed by providing an alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers, forming a dielectric separator structure extending through the alternating stack, and forming memory openings that divides the dielectric separator structure into a plurality of dielectric separator structures. The spacer material layers are formed as, or are replaced with, electrically conductive layers, which are laterally recessed selective to the insulating layers and the plurality of dielectric separator structures to form a pair of lateral cavities at each level of the electrically conductive layers in each memory opening. After formation of a blocking dielectric layer, a pair of physically disjoined metal-semiconductor alloy portions are formed in each pair of lateral cavities as floating gate electrodes. A tunneling dielectric layer and a semiconductor channel layer is subsequently formed in each memory opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Senaka Kanakamedala, Raghuveer S. Makala, Rahul Sharangpani, Somesh Peri, Yao-Sheng Lee, James Kai
  • Publication number: 20200075631
    Abstract: A memory element is provided that includes a portion of a bit line plug, a portion of a source line plug, a portion of a word line, a portion of a vertical semiconductor pillar disposed between the bit line plug, the source line plug and adjacent the word line, and a gate oxide including a ferroelectric material disposed between the vertical semiconductor pillar and the word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Yingda Dong, James Kai, Christopher J. Petti