Patents by Inventor Nikolay A. Mirin

Nikolay A. Mirin 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: 11520240
    Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Mirin, Robert Dembi, Richard T. Housley, Xiaosong Zhang, Jonathan D. Harms, Stephen J. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20220108927
    Abstract: A method for measuring overlay between an interest level and a reference level of a wafer includes applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting at least one residual magnetic field emitted from at least one registration marker of a first set of registration markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining a location of the at least one registration marker of the first set registration markers, determining a location of at least one registration marker of a second set of registration markers, and responsive to the respective determined locations of the at least one registration marker of the first set of registration markers and the at least one registration marker of the second set of registration markers, calculating a positional offset between an interest level of the wafer and a reference level of the wafer. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Mirin, Robert Dembi, Richard T. Housley, Xiaosong Zhang, Jonathan D. Harms, Stephen J. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11251096
    Abstract: A method for measuring overlay between an interest level and a reference level of a wafer includes applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting at least one residual magnetic field emitted from at least one registration marker of a first set of registration markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining a location of the at least one registration marker of the first set registration markers, determining a location of at least one registration marker of a second set of registration markers, and responsive to the respective determined locations of the at least one registration marker of the first set of registration markers and the at least one registration marker of the second set of registration markers, calculating a positional offset between an interest level of the wafer and a reference level of the wafer. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Mirin, Robert Dembi, Richard T. Housley, Xiaosong Zhang, Jonathan D. Harms, Stephen J. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20210263429
    Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Mirin, Robert Dembi, Richard T. Housley, Xiaosong Zhang, Jonathan D. Harms, Stephen J. Kramer
  • Patent number: 11009798
    Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Mirin, Robert Dembi, Richard T. Housley, Xiaosong Zhang, Jonathan D. Harms, Stephen J. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10811355
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Brown, Jenna L. Russon, Tim H. Bossart, Brian R. Watson, Nikolay A. Mirin, David A. Kewley
  • Publication number: 20200075432
    Abstract: A method for measuring overlay between an interest level and a reference level of a wafer includes applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting at least one residual magnetic field emitted from at least one registration marker of a first set of registration markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining a location of the at least one registration marker of the first set registration markers, determining a location of at least one registration marker of a second set of registration markers, and responsive to the respective determined locations of the at least one registration marker of the first set of registration markers and the at least one registration marker of the second set of registration markers, calculating a positional offset between an interest level of the wafer and a reference level of the wafer. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Mirin, Robert Dembi, Richard T. Housley, Xiaosong Zhang, Jonathan D. Harms, Stephen J. Kramer
  • Publication number: 20200073257
    Abstract: A method of aligning a wafer for semiconductor fabrication processes may include applying a magnetic field to a wafer, detecting one or more residual magnetic fields from one or more alignment markers within the wafer, responsive to the detected one or more residual magnetic fields, determining locations of the one or more alignment markers. The marker locations may be determined relative to an ideal grid, followed by determining a geometrical transformation model for aligning the wafer, and aligning the wafer responsive to the geometrical transformation model. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Nikolay A. Mirin, Robert Dembi, Richard T. Housley, Xiaosong Zhang, Jonathan D. Harms, Stephen J. Kramer
  • Patent number: 10388601
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Brown, Jenna L. Russon, Tim H. Bossart, Brian R. Watson, Nikolay A. Mirin, David A. Kewley
  • Publication number: 20190103350
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: William R. Brown, Jenna L. Russon, Tim H. Bossart, Brian R. Watson, Nikolay A. Mirin, David A. Kewley
  • Publication number: 20180114751
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on the each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: William R. Brown, Jenna L. Russon, Tim H. Bossart, Brian R. Watson, Nikolay A. Mirin, David A. Kewley
  • Patent number: 9911693
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on the each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William R. Brown, Jenna L. Russon, Tim H. Bossart, Brian R. Watson, Nikolay A. Mirin, David A. Kewley
  • Publication number: 20170062324
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including conductive lines is disclosed. First conductive lines each comprise a first portion, a second portion, and an enlarged portion, the enlarged portion connecting the first portion and the second portion of the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes second conductive lines, at least some of the second conductive lines disposed between a pair of the first conductive lines, each second conductive line including a larger cross-sectional area at an end portion of the second conductive line than at other portions thereof. The semiconductor device includes a pad on each of the first conductive lines and the second conductive lines, wherein the pad on each of the second conductive lines is on the end portion thereof and the pad on the each of the first conductive lines is on the enlarged portion thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: William R. Brown, Jenna L. Russon, Tim H. Bossart, Brian R. Watson, Nikolay A. Mirin, David A. Kewley