Patents Examined by Christopher Johnson
  • Patent number: 11800712
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a substrate having a first region, a second region, and a third region main separation regions extending in the first direction and apart from each other in a second direction, first auxiliary separation regions extending in the first direction and spaced apart from each other in the second direction, and second auxiliary separation regions extending in the first direction and spaced apart from each other in the second direction. The first auxiliary separation regions are at a first pitch in the second direction between the main separation regions, the second auxiliary separation regions are disposed at a second pitch, smaller than the first pitch in the second direction between the main separation regions, and the first auxiliary separation regions and the second auxiliary separation regions are shifted from each other in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Juyeon Jung, Kwanyong Kim, Haemin Lee, Juyoung Lim, Wonseok Cho
  • Patent number: 11800711
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated assembly. Laterally alternating first and second sacrificial materials are formed over a conductive structure, and then a stack of vertically alternating first and second levels is formed over the sacrificial materials. The first levels include first material and the second levels include insulative second material. Channel-material-openings are formed to extend through the stack and through at least some of the strips. Channel-material-pillars are formed within the channel-material-openings. Slits are formed to extend through the stack and through the sacrificial materials. The first sacrificial material is replaced with first conductive material and then the second sacrificial material is replaced with second conductive material. At least some of the first material of the stack is replaced with third conductive material. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anilkumar Chandolu, Indra V. Chary
  • Patent number: 11796396
    Abstract: The structure of a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) thermal sensor and a method of fabricating the MEMS thermal sensor are disclosed. A method of fabricating a MEMS thermal sensor includes forming first and second sensing electrodes with first and second electrode fingers, respectively, on a substrate and forming a patterned layer with a rectangular cross-section between a pair of the first electrode fingers. The first and second electrode fingers are formed in an interdigitated configuration and suspended above the substrate. The method further includes modifying the patterned layer to have a curved cross-section between the pair of the first electrode fingers, forming a curved sensing element on the modified patterned layer to couple to the pair of the first electrodes, and removing the modified patterned layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsai-Hao Hung, Shih-Chi Kuo
  • Patent number: 11791415
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film which includes oxidized material containing silicon and covers the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor film provided to be in contact with the gate insulating film and overlap with at least the gate electrode, and a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor film. In the oxide semiconductor film, a first region which is provided to be in contact with the gate insulating film and have a thickness less than or equal to 5 nm has a silicon concentration lower than or equal to 1.0 at. %, and a region in the oxide semiconductor film other than the first region has lower silicon concentration than the first region. At least the first region includes a crystal portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Honda, Masashi Tsubuku, Yusuke Nonaka, Takashi Shimazu, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 11792990
    Abstract: A vertical memory device includes channels on a substrate, a channel connecting pattern, gate electrodes, and an etch stop pattern and a blocking pattern sequentially stacked. The channels extend in a first direction perpendicular to an upper surface of the substrate. The channel connecting pattern extends in a second direction parallel to the upper surface of the substrate to cover outer sidewalls of the channels. The gate electrodes are spaced apart from each other in the first direction on the channel connecting pattern, and extend in the second direction to surround the channels. The etch stop pattern and the blocking pattern are sequentially stacked in a third direction parallel to the upper surface of the substrate and crossing the second direction on an end portion of the channel connecting pattern in the third direction, and include different materials from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yujin Seo, Byoungil Lee, Subin Kang, Jimo Gu
  • Patent number: 11778807
    Abstract: Provided are a semiconductor memory device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor memory device may include: a first impurity doped region and a second impurity doped region spaced apart from each other in a semiconductor substrate, a bit line electrically connected to the first impurity doped region and crossing over the semiconductor substrate, a storage node contact electrically connected to the second impurity doped region, a first spacer and a second spacer disposed between the bit line and the storage node contact, and an air gap region disposed between the first spacer and the second spacer. The first spacer may cover a sidewall of the bit line, and the second spacer may be adjacent to the storage node contact. A top end of the first spacer may have a height higher than a height of a top end of the second spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jungwoo Song, Kwangmin Kim, Jun Ho Lee, Hyuckjin Kang, Yong Kwan Kim, Sangyeon Han, Seguen Park
  • Patent number: 11770933
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate defined with a first cell region and a second cell region, and a row decoder region between the first and second cell regions; a peripheral circuit defined in the first and second cell regions of the substrate; pass transistors defined in the row decoder region of the substrate; bottom wiring layers disposed in a first dielectric layer covering the peripheral circuit and the pass transistors; a memory cell array defined on the first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer defined on the first dielectric layer, and covering the memory cell array; top wiring layers disposed in a third dielectric layer defined on the second dielectric layer; and global lines disposed in the row decoder region, and configured to transfer operating voltages to the pass transistors, wherein the global lines are disposed only in at least one bottom wiring layer from among the bottom and top wiring layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Ho Kim, Young Ki Kim, Sang Hyun Sung, Sung Lae Oh, Byung Hyun Jeon
  • Patent number: 11756898
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes: two memory blocks; a first structure disposed between the two memory blocks; and a second structure separated from the two memory blocks, or a plurality of second structures. The two memory blocks include a plurality of first conductive layers and a plurality of first insulating layers alternately arranged. The first structure has one end, and the one end is closer to the substrate than the plurality of first conductive layers are. The second structure has one end, and the one end is closer to the substrate than at least apart of the first conductive layers among the plurality of first conductive layers is. Another end of the first structure and another end of the second structure are farther from the substrate than the plurality of first conductive layers are. The second structure is separated from the first structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KIOXIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Itai, Mitsuhiro Noguchi, Hiromasa Yoshimori, Hideyuki Tabata, Yasushi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11751385
    Abstract: A method for forming a 3D memory device is provided. The method comprises forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate, forming an alternating dielectric stack on the sacrificial layer, forming a plurality of channel holes vertically penetrating the alternating dielectric stack and the sacrificial layer, and forming a first channel layer in each channel hole. The method further comprises forming a second channel layer on the first channel layer in each channel hole, such that a merging point of the second channel layer is higher than a bottom surface of the alternating dielectric stack. The method further comprises removing the sacrificial layer to form a horizontal trench, and forming a selective epitaxial growth layer in the horizontal trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Yangtze Memory Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiaqian Xue, Tingting Gao, Lei Xue, Wanbo Geng, Xiaoxin Liu, Bo Huang
  • Patent number: 11735623
    Abstract: This disclosure is related to post processing steps for integrating of micro devices into system (receiver) substrate or improving the performance of the micro devices after transfer. Post processing steps for additional structure such as reflective layers, fillers, black matrix or other layers may be used to improve the out coupling or confining of the generated LED light. In another example, dielectric and metallic layers may be used to integrate an electro-optical thin film device into the system substrate with the transferred micro devices. In another example, color conversion layers are integrated into the system substrate to create different output from the micro devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: VueReal Inc.
    Inventors: Gholamreza Chaji, Ehsanollah Fathi
  • Patent number: 11737273
    Abstract: 3D semiconductor memory devices may include a horizontal structure that may be on an upper surface of a substrate and may include first and second horizontal patterns sequentially stacked on the upper surface of the substrate, a stack structure including electrodes stacked on the horizontal structure, a vertical pattern extending through the electrodes and connected to the first horizontal pattern, and a separation structure intersecting the stack structure and the horizontal structure and protruding into the upper surface of the substrate. A lowermost electrode may have first inner sidewalls facing each other with the separation structure interposed therebetween. The second horizontal pattern may have second inner sidewalls facing each other with the separation structure interposed therebetween. A maximum distance between the first inner sidewalls in the first direction may be less than a maximum distance between the second inner sidewalls in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seungwoo Nam, Byoungil Lee, Yujin Seo
  • Patent number: 11729982
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. The conductive levels include conductive structures. Channel material extends vertically through the stack. The conductive structures have proximal regions near the channel material, and have distal regions further from the channel material than the proximal regions. The insulative levels have first regions vertically between the proximal regions of neighboring conductive structures, and have second regions vertically between the distal regions of the neighboring conductive structures. Voids are within the insulative levels and extend across portions of the first and second regions. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Richard J. Hill
  • Patent number: 11729977
    Abstract: A method for forming a staircase structure of a memory device includes the following operations. A first number of divisions are formed at different depths along a first direction in a stack structure and a trench structure between adjacent divisions, the stack structure comprising interleaved sacrificial material layers and dielectric material layers. A plurality of stairs are formed along a second direction. Each of the plurality of stairs includes the first number of divisions, and each of the divisions includes a first number of sacrificial portions. The second direction is perpendicular to the first direction. An insulating portion is formed in the trench structure. A top sacrificial portion is formed on a top surface of each of the first number of divisions and in contact with the insulating portion. The top sacrificial portion is replaced with a conductor portion through a slit structure in the insulating portion and in contact with the top sacrificial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuting Zhou
  • Patent number: 11727971
    Abstract: A memory device includes a substrate, a stack structure, a first staircase structure, and a first part of a second staircase structure. The substrate includes a plurality of blocks each having a staircase region, a memory array region, and a word line cutting region. The stack structure is located on the substrate in the memory array region, and includes first insulating layers and conductive layers alternately stacked on each other. The first staircase structure is located on the substrate in the staircase region, and includes first insulating layers and conductive layers alternately stacked on each other. The first part of the second staircase structure is located on the substrate in the word line cutting region, and includes first insulating layers and conductive layers alternately stacked on each other, and two first parts of two second staircase structures in two adjacent blocks are separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: MACRONIX INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chen-Yu Cheng, Tzung-Ting Han
  • Patent number: 11721762
    Abstract: A fin field effect transistor (FinFET) device structure and method for forming FinFET device structure are provided. The FinFET structure includes a substrate and an isolation structure formed on the substrate. The FinFET structure also includes a fin structure extending above the substrate, and the fin structure is embedded in the isolation structure. The FinFET structure further includes an epitaxial structure formed on the fin structure, the epitaxial structure has a pentagon-like shape, and an interface between the epitaxial structure and the fin structure is lower than a top surface of the isolation structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhe-Hao Zhang, Tung-Wen Cheng, Che-Cheng Chang, Yung-Jung Chang, Chang-Yin Chen
  • Patent number: 11723196
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of insulative structures and conductive structures arranged in tiers. At least one slit region divides the stack structure into blocks. Each block comprises an array of active pillars. Along the at least one slit region is a horizontally alternating sequence of slit structure segments and support pillar structures. The slit structure segments and the support pillar structures each extend vertically through the stack structure. Additional microelectronic devices are also disclosed as are related methods and electronic systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anilkumar Chandolu, Indra V. Chary
  • Patent number: 11716849
    Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device includes a substrate including a cell array region, a first gate electrode including an opening on the cell array region of the substrate, a plurality of second gate electrodes stacked above the first gate electrode and including convex portions having an outward curve extending toward the substrate, and a word line cutting region cutting the opening and the convex portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gi Yong Chung, Ho Jin Kim, Young-Jin Kwon, Dong Seog Eun
  • Patent number: 11716850
    Abstract: A method for forming a 3D memory device is provided. The method includes forming a dielectric stack including interleaved initial insulating layers and initial sacrificial layers over a substrate, and forming at least one slit structure extending vertically and laterally in the dielectric stack and dividing the dielectric stack into block regions. The at least one slit structure each includes slit openings exposing the substrate and an initial support structure between adjacent slit openings. Each block region may include interleaved insulating layers and sacrificial layers, and the initial support structure may include interleaved insulating portions and sacrificial portions. Each insulating portion and sacrificial portion may be in contact with respective insulating layers and sacrificial layers of a same level from adjacent block regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: YANGTZE MEMORY TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zongliang Huo, Haohao Yang, Wei Xu, Ping Yan, Pan Huang, Wenbin Zhou
  • Patent number: 11716845
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a gate structure on a substrate, the gate structure including insulating layers and gate electrodes, which are alternately stacked, a channel structure extending through the gate structure, and a source conductive pattern between the substrate and the gate structure. The source conductive pattern includes a lower source conductive pattern and an upper source conductive pattern on the lower source conductive pattern. The channel structure includes an insulating pattern extending through the source conductive pattern, a data storage pattern, and a channel pattern between the insulating pattern and the data storage pattern. A lower surface of the channel pattern is at a level higher than an upper surface of the upper source conductive pattern, but lower than a lower surface of a lowermost one of the gate electrodes in a cross-sectional view of the semiconductor device with the substrate providing a base reference level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lee Sanghoon
  • Patent number: 11716841
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first memory region, a second memory region, and an intermediate region between the memory regions. A stack extends across the memory regions and the intermediate region. The stack includes alternating conductive levels and insulative levels. Channel-material-pillars are arranged within the memory regions. Memory-block-regions extend longitudinally across the memory regions and the intermediate region. Staircase regions are within the intermediate region. Each of the staircase regions laterally overlaps two of the memory-block-regions. First panel regions extend longitudinally across at least portions of the staircase regions. Second panel regions extend longitudinally and provide lateral separation between adjacent memory-block-regions. The second panel regions are of laterally different dimensions than the first panel regions and/or are compositionally different than the first panel regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuangqiang Luo, Lifang Xu, Indra V. Chary