Patents by Inventor Scott E. Sills

Scott E. Sills 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: 11139001
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a stack structure comprising decks each comprising a memory element level comprising memory elements, and a control logic level in electrical communication with the memory element level and comprising control logic devices. At least one of the control logic devices of the control logic level of one or more of the decks comprises at least one device exhibiting a gate electrode shared by neighboring vertical transistors thereof. A control logic assembly, a control logic device, an electronic system, a method of forming a control logic device, and a method of operating a semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt D. Beigel, Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 11121177
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of memory cells includes forming lines of covering material that are elevationally over and along lines of spaced sense line contacts. Longitudinal orientation of the lines of covering material is used in forming lines comprising programmable material and outer electrode material that are between and along the lines of covering material. The covering material is removed over the spaced sense line contacts and the spaced sense line contacts are exposed. Access lines are formed. Sense lines are formed that are electrically coupled to the spaced sense line contacts. The sense lines are angled relative to the lines of spaced sense line contacts and relative to the access lines. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 11107817
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first semiconductor material between two regions of a second semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material is a different composition than the first semiconductor material. Hydrogen is diffused within the first and second semiconductor materials. The conductivity of the second semiconductor material increases in response to the hydrogen diffused therein to thereby create a structure having the second semiconductor material as source/drain regions, and having the first semiconductor material as a channel region between the source/drain regions. A transistor gate is adjacent the channel region and is configured to induce an electric field within the channel region. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Yi Fang Lee, Haitao Liu, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi, Karthik Sarpatwari, Scott E. Sills, Sameer Chhajed
  • Publication number: 20210265467
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a polycrystalline first semiconductor material, and having a second semiconductor material directly adjacent to the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material is of a different composition than the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. A conductivity-enhancing dopant is within the second semiconductor material. The conductivity-enhancing dopant is a neutral-type dopant relative to the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. An electrical gate is adjacent to a region of the polycrystalline first semiconductor material and is configured to induce an electric field within said region of the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. The gate is not adjacent to the second semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Deepak Chandra Pandey, Haitao Liu, Richard J. Hill, Guangyu Huang, Yunfei Gao, Ramanathan Gandhi, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20210242196
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a stack structure comprising decks each comprising a memory level comprising memory elements, a control logic level vertically adjacent and in electrical communication with the memory level and comprising control logic devices configured to effectuate a portion of control operations for the memory level, and an additional control logic level vertically adjacent and in electrical communication with the memory level and comprising additional control logic devices configured to effectuate an additional portion of the control operations for the memory level. A memory device, a method of operating a semiconductor device, and an electronic system are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicants: Micron Technology, Inc., Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kurt D. Beigel
  • Patent number: 11063037
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a stack structure comprising decks each comprising a memory element level comprising memory elements, and a control logic level in electrical communication with the memory element level and comprising control logic devices. At least one of the control logic devices of the control logic level of one or more of the decks comprises at least one device exhibiting transistors laterally displaced from one another. A memory device, a thin film transistor control logic assembly, an electronic system, and a method of operating a semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kurt D. Beigel
  • Publication number: 20210184079
    Abstract: Light emitting diodes and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) includes a substrate, a semiconductor material carried by the substrate, and an active region proximate to the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material has a first surface proximate to the substrate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of the semiconductor material is generally non-planar, and the active region generally conforms to the non-planar second surface of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Scott D. Schellhammer, Scott E. Sills, Lifang Xu, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton J. De Villiers
  • Patent number: 11038027
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a polycrystalline first semiconductor material, and having a second semiconductor material directly adjacent to the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material is of a different composition than the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. A conductivity-enhancing dopant is within the second semiconductor material. The conductivity-enhancing dopant is a neutral-type dopant relative to the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. An electrical gate is adjacent to a region of the polycrystalline first semiconductor material and is configured to induce an electric field within said region of the polycrystalline first semiconductor material. The gate is not adjacent to the second semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Deepak Chandra Pandey, Haitao Liu, Richard J. Hill, Guangyu Huang, Yunfei Gao, Ramanathan Gandhi, Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 11024630
    Abstract: A memory cell comprises first and second transistors laterally displaced relative one another. A capacitor is above the first and second transistors. The capacitor comprises a container-shape conductive first capacitor node electrically coupled with a first current node of the first transistor, a conductive second capacitor node electrically coupled with a first current node of the second transistor, and a capacitor dielectric material between the first capacitor node and the second capacitor node. The capacitor dielectric material extends across a top of the container-shape first capacitor node. Additional embodiments and aspects, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 11024378
    Abstract: Memory systems and memory programming methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology , Inc.
    Inventors: Emiliano Faraoni, Scott E. Sills, Alessandro Calderoni, Adam Johnson
  • Patent number: 10998440
    Abstract: A device comprises a vertical transistor. The vertical transistor comprises a semiconductive pillar, at least one gate electrode, a gate dielectric material, and void spaces. The semiconductive pillar comprises a source region, a drain region, and a channel region extending vertically between the source region and the drain region, the channel region comprising a semiconductive material having a band gap greater than 1.65 electronvolts. The at least one gate electrode laterally neighbors the semiconductive pillar. The gate dielectric material is laterally between the semiconductive pillar and the at least one gate electrode. The void spaces are vertically adjacent the gate dielectric material and laterally intervening between the at least one gate electrode and each of the source region and the drain region of the semiconductive pillar. Related electronic systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Ramanathan Gandhi, Hong Li, Haitao Liu, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Sanh D. Tang, Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 10991882
    Abstract: A resistive memory element comprises a first electrode, an active material over the first electrode, a buffer material over the active material and comprising longitudinally extending, columnar grains of crystalline material, an ion reservoir material over the buffer material, and a second electrode over the ion reservoir material. A memory cell, a memory device, an electronic system, and a method of forming a resistive memory element are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Petz, Yongjun Jeff Hu, Scott E. Sills, D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20210080095
    Abstract: A solid state lighting (SSL) with a solid state emitter (SSE) having thermally conductive projections extending into an air channel, and methods of making and using such SSLs. The thermally conductive projections can be fins, posts, or other structures configured to transfer heat into a fluid medium, such as air. The projections can be electrical contacts between the SSE and a power source. The air channel can be oriented generally vertically such that air in the channel warmed by the SSE flows upward through the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventor: Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20210050346
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a stack structure comprising decks. Each deck of the stack structure comprises a memory element level comprising memory elements and control logic level in electrical communication with the memory element level, the control logic level comprising a first subdeck structure comprising a first number of transistors comprising a P-type channel region or an N-type channel region and a second subdeck structure comprising a second number of transistors comprising the other of the P-type channel region or the N-type channel region overlying the first subdeck structure. Related semiconductor devices and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Kurt D. Beigel, Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 10923627
    Abstract: Light emitting diodes and associated methods of manufacturing are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting diode (LED) includes a substrate, a semiconductor material carried by the substrate, and an active region proximate to the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material has a first surface proximate to the substrate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of the semiconductor material is generally non-planar, and the active region generally conforms to the non-planar second surface of the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Schellhammer, Scott E. Sills, Lifang Xu, Thomas Gehrke, Zaiyuan Ren, Anton J. De Villiers
  • Patent number: 10923658
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming a memory cell. A first portion of a switching region is formed over a first electrode. A second portion of the switching region is formed over the first portion using atomic layer deposition. The second portion is a different composition than the first portion. An ion source region is formed over the switching region. A second electrode is formed over the ion source region. Some embodiments include a memory cell having a switching region between a pair of electrodes. The switching region is configured to be reversibly transitioned between a low resistive state and a high resistive state. The switching region includes two or more discrete portions, with one of the portions not having a non-oxygen component in common with any composition directly against it in the high resistive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuichiro Yasuda, Noel Rocklein, Scott E. Sills, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Qian Tao
  • Patent number: 10916586
    Abstract: Three dimensional memory arrays and methods of forming the same are provided. An example three dimensional memory array can include a stack comprising a plurality of first conductive lines separated from one another by at least an insulation material, and at least one conductive extension arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the plurality of first conductive lines such that the at least one conductive extension intersects each of the plurality of first conductive lines. Storage element material is arranged around the at least one conductive extension, and a select device is arranged around the storage element material. The storage element material is radially adjacent an insulation material separating the plurality of first conductive lines, and the plurality of materials arranged around the storage element material are radially adjacent each of the plurality of first conductive lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 10910255
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a first set of lines extending along a first direction, and a second set of lines over the first set of lines and extending along a second direction. Lines of the second set cross lines of the first set at cross-point locations. Memory structures are within the cross-point locations. Each memory structure includes a top electrode material, a bottom electrode material and a programmable material. Rails of insulative material extend parallel to the lines of the second set and alternate with the lines of the second set along the first direction. The programmable material has first regions within the memory structures and second regions over the rails of insulative material. A planarized surface extends across the lines of the second set and across the second regions of the programmable material. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 10883710
    Abstract: A solid state lighting (SSL) with a solid state emitter (SSE) having thermally conductive projections extending into an air channel, and methods of making and using such SSLs. The thermally conductive projections can be fins, posts, or other structures configured to transfer heat into a fluid medium, such as air. The projections can be electrical contacts between the SSE and a power source. The air channel can be oriented generally vertically such that air in the channel warmed by the SSE flows upward through the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 10862030
    Abstract: Methods of forming conductive elements, such as interconnects and electrodes, for semiconductor structures and memory cells. The methods include forming a first conductive material and a second conductive material comprising silver in a portion of at least one opening and performing a polishing process to fill the at least one opening with at least one of the first and second conductive materials. An annealing process may be performed to form a mixture or an alloy of the silver and the first conductive material. The methods enable formation of silver-containing conductive elements having reduced dimensions (e.g., less than about 20 nm). The resulting conductive elements have a desirable resistivity. The methods may be used, for example, to form interconnects for electrically connecting active devices and to form electrodes for memory cells. A semiconductor structure and a memory cell including such a conductive structure are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Scott E. Sills, Whitney L. West, Rob B. Goodwin, Nishant Sinha