Patents by Inventor Anish Khandekar

Anish Khandekar 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: 20210265171
    Abstract: A method used in forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The stack comprises an etch-stop tier between a first tier and a second tier of the stack. The etch-stop tier is of different composition from those of the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. Etching is conducted into the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are above the etch-stop tier to the etch-stop tier to form channel openings that have individual bases comprising the etch-stop tier. The etch-stop tier is penetrated through to extend individual of the channel openings there-through. After extending the individual channel openings through the etch-stop tier, etching is conducted into and through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are below the etch-stop tier to extend the individual channel openings deeper into the stack below the etch-stop tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Gordon A. Haller, Tom J. John, Anish A. Khandekar, Christopher Larsen, Kunal Shrotri
  • Patent number: 11094705
    Abstract: A method of forming polysilicon comprises forming a first polysilicon-comprising material over a substrate, with the first polysilicon-comprising material comprising at least one of elemental carbon and elemental nitrogen at a total of 0.1 to 20 atomic percent. A second polysilicon-comprising material is formed over the first polysilicon-comprising material. The second polysilicon-comprising material comprises less, if any, total elemental carbon and elemental nitrogen than the first polysilicon-comprising material. Other aspects and embodiments, including structure independent of method of manufacture, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dimitrios Pavlopoulos, Kunal Shrotri, Anish A. Khandekar
  • Publication number: 20210193843
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes forming a working surface of a substrate material. The example apparatus includes trench formed between two semiconductor structures on the working surface of the substrate material. The example apparatus further includes access lines formed on neighboring sidewalls of the semiconductor structures opposing a channel region separating a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region. The example apparatus further includes a time-control formed inhibitor material formed over a portion of the sidewalls of the semiconductor structures. The example apparatus further includes a dielectric material formed over the semiconductor structures to enclose a non-solid space between the access lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Shen Hu, Hung-Wei Liu, Xiao Li, Zhiqiang Xie, Corey Staller, Jeffery B. Hull, Anish A. Khandekar, Thomas A. Figura
  • Patent number: 11037797
    Abstract: A method used in forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The stack comprises an etch-stop tier between a first tier and a second tier of the stack. The etch-stop tier is of different composition from those of the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. Etching is conducted into the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are above the etch-stop tier to the etch-stop tier to form channel openings that have individual bases comprising the etch-stop tier. The etch-stop tier is penetrated through to extend individual of the channel openings there-through. After extending the individual channel openings through the etch-stop tier, etching is conducted into and through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are below the etch-stop tier to extend the individual channel openings deeper into the stack below the etch-stop tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Gordon A. Haller, Tom J. John, Anish A. Khandekar, Christopher Larsen, Kunal Shrotri
  • Patent number: 11024736
    Abstract: A transistor comprises a top source/drain region, a bottom source/drain region, a channel region vertically between the top and bottom source/drain regions, and a gate operatively laterally-adjacent the channel region. At least one of the top source/drain region, the bottom source/drain region, and the channel region are crystalline. All crystal grains within the at least one of the top source/drain region, the bottom source/drain region, and the channel region have average crystal sizes within 0.064 ?m3 of one another. Other embodiments, including methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Wei Liu, Sameer Chhajed, Jeffery B. Hull, Anish A. Khandekar
  • Patent number: 11011538
    Abstract: A transistor comprises channel material having first and second opposing sides. A gate is on the first side of the channel material and a gate insulator is between the gate and the channel material. A first insulating material has first and second opposing sides, with the first side being adjacent the second side of the channel material. A second insulating material of different composition from that of the first insulating material is adjacent the second side of the first insulating material. The second insulating material has at least one of (a), (b), and (c), where, (a): lower oxygen diffusivity than the first material, (b): net positive charge, and (c): at least two times greater shear strength than the first material. In some embodiments, an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises such transistors. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, Luan C. Tran, Jie Li, Anish A. Khandekar, Kunal Shrotri
  • Publication number: 20210143011
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to semiconductor structure formation are described. An example method includes forming an opening through silicon (Si) material, formed over a semiconductor substrate, to a first depth to form pillars of Si material. The example method further includes depositing an isolation material within the opening to fill the opening between the Si pillars. The example method further includes removing a portion of the isolation material from between the pillars to a second depth to create a second opening between the pillars and defining inner sidewalls between the pillars. The example method further includes depositing an enhancer material over a top surface of the pillars and along the inner sidewalls of the pillars down to a top portion of the isolation material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Tapias, Sanjeev Sapra, Anish A. Khandekar, Shen Hu
  • Patent number: 10971360
    Abstract: A transistor comprises channel material having first and second opposing sides. A gate is on the first side of the channel material and a gate insulator is between the gate and the channel material. A first insulating material has first and second opposing sides, with the first side being adjacent the second side of the channel material. A second insulating material of different composition from that of the first insulating material is adjacent the second side of the first insulating material. The second insulating material has at least one of (a), (b), and (c), where, (a): lower oxygen diffusivity than the first material, (b): net positive charge, and (c): at least two times greater shear strength than the first material. In some embodiments, an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises such transistors. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, Anish A. Khandekar, Kunal Shrotri, Jie Li
  • Patent number: 10937690
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to selectively depositing a liner material on a sidewall of an opening are described. An example method includes forming a liner material on a dielectric material of sidewalls of an opening and a bottom surface of an opening and removing the first liner material of the sidewalls of the opening and the bottom surface of the opening using a non-selective etch chemistry. The example method further includes forming a second liner material on the dielectric material of the sidewalls of the opening to avoid contact with the bottom surface of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anish Khandekar, Lars P. Heineck, Silvia Borsari, Zhiqiang Xie
  • Patent number: 10930499
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to semiconductor structure formation are described. An example method includes forming an opening through silicon (Si) material, formed over a semiconductor substrate, to a first depth to form pillars of Si material. The example method further includes depositing an isolation material within the opening to fill the opening between the Si pillars. The example method further includes removing a portion of the isolation material from between the pillars to a second depth to create a second opening between the pillars and defining inner sidewalls between the pillars. The example method further includes depositing an enhancer material over a top surface of the pillars and along the inner sidewalls of the pillars down to a top portion of the isolation material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Tapias, Sanjeev Sapra, Anish A. Khandekar, Shen Hu
  • Publication number: 20210050364
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a structure having an opening extending into an integrated configuration. A first material is within the opening, and is configured to create an undulating topography relative to a sidewall of the opening. The undulating topography has a surface roughness characterized by a mean roughness parameter Rmean which is the mean peak-to-valley distance along the undulating topography. The Rmean is at least about 4 nm. A second material is within the opening and along at least a portion of the undulating topography. The first and second materials are compositionally different from one another. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Micro Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Tapias, Andrew Li, Adam W. Saxler, Kunal Shrotri, Erik R. Byers, Matthew J. King, Diem Thy N. Tran, Wei Yeeng Ng, Anish A. Khandekar
  • Publication number: 20210043769
    Abstract: A transistor comprises a top source/drain region, a bottom source/drain region, a channel region vertically between the top and bottom source/drain regions, and a gate operatively laterally-adjacent the channel region. At least one of the top source/drain region, the bottom source/drain region, and the channel region are crystalline. All crystal grains within the at least one of the top source/drain region, the bottom source/drain region, and the channel region have average crystal sizes within 0.064 ?m3 of one another. Other embodiments, including methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Wei Liu, Sameer Chhajed, Jeffery B. Hull, Anish A. Khandekar
  • Publication number: 20200365596
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to forming a semiconductor using hybrid oxidation are described. An example method includes forming an opening to create an isolation region in a semiconductor substrate. The example method further includes depositing a first dielectric into the isolation region at a first oxidation rate. The example method further includes depositing a second dielectric into the isolation region at a second oxidation rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Somik Mukherjee, Shen Hu, Anish A. Khandekar, Sau Ha Cheung, Zhiqiang Xie
  • Publication number: 20200328080
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to semiconductor structure formation are described. An example method includes forming an opening through silicon (Si) material, formed over a semiconductor substrate, to a first depth to form pillars of Si material. The example method further includes depositing an isolation material within the opening to fill the opening between the Si pillars. The example method further includes removing a portion of the isolation material from between the pillars to a second depth to create a second opening between the pillars and defining inner sidewalls between the pillars. The example method further includes depositing an enhancer material over a top surface of the pillars and along the inner sidewalls of the pillars down to a top portion of the isolation material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Tapias, Sanjeev Sapra, Anish A. Khandekar, Shen Hu
  • Publication number: 20200312712
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to selectively depositing a liner material on a sidewall of an opening are described. An example method includes forming a liner material on a dielectric material of sidewalls of an opening and a bottom surface of an opening and removing the first liner material of the sidewalls of the opening and the bottom surface of the opening using a non-selective etch chemistry. The example method further includes forming a second liner material on the dielectric material of the sidewalls of the opening to avoid contact with the bottom surface of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Anish Khandekar, Lars P. Heineck, Silvia Borsari, Zhiqiang Xie
  • Patent number: 10749041
    Abstract: A method of forming Si3Nx, where “x” is less than 4 and at least 3, comprises decomposing a Si-comprising precursor molecule into at least two decomposition species that are different from one another, at least one of the at least two different decomposition species comprising Si. An outer substrate surface is contacted with the at least two decomposition species. At least one of the decomposition species that comprises Si attaches to the outer substrate surface to comprise an attached species. The attached species is contacted with a N-comprising precursor that reacts with the attached species to form a reaction product comprising Si3Nx, where “x” is less than 4 and at least 3. Other embodiments are disclosed, including constructions made in accordance with method embodiments of the invention and constructions independent of method of manufacture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Kunal Shrotri, Jeffery B. Hull, Anish A. Khandekar, Duo Mao, Zhixin Xu, Ee Ee Eng, Jie Li, Dong Liang
  • Publication number: 20200251347
    Abstract: A method used in forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The stack comprises an etch-stop tier between a first tier and a second tier of the stack. The etch-stop tier is of different composition from those of the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. Etching is conducted into the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are above the etch-stop tier to the etch-stop tier to form channel openings that have individual bases comprising the etch-stop tier. The etch-stop tier is penetrated through to extend individual of the channel openings there-through. After extending the individual channel openings through the etch-stop tier, etching is conducted into and through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are below the etch-stop tier to extend the individual channel openings deeper into the stack below the etch-stop tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Gordon A. Haller, Tom J. John, Anish A. Khandekar, Christopher Larsen, Kunal Shrotri
  • Patent number: 10665599
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming vertically-stacked memory cells. An opening is formed through a stack of alternating insulative and conductive levels. Cavities are formed to extend into the conductive levels along sidewalls of the opening. At least one of the cavities is formed to be shallower than one or more others of the cavities. Charge-blocking dielectric and charge-storage structures are formed within the cavities. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a stack of alternating insulative and conductive levels. Cavities extend into the conductive levels. At least one of the cavities is shallower than one or more others of the cavities by at least about 2 nanometers. Charge-blocking dielectric is within the cavities. Charge-storage structures are within the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongbin Zhu, Gordon A. Haller, Charles H. Dennison, Anish A. Khandekar, Brett D. Lowe, Lining He, Brian Cleereman
  • Patent number: 10665469
    Abstract: A method used in forming an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The stack comprises an etch-stop tier between a first tier and a second tier of the stack. The etch-stop tier is of different composition from those of the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. Etching is conducted into the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are above the etch-stop tier to the etch-stop tier to form channel openings that have individual bases comprising the etch-stop tier. The etch-stop tier is penetrated through to extend individual of the channel openings there-through. After extending the individual channel openings through the etch-stop tier, etching is conducted into and through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers that are below the etch-stop tier to extend the individual channel openings deeper into the stack below the etch-stop tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Gordon A. Haller, Tom J. John, Anish A. Khandekar, Christopher Larsen, Kunal Shrotri
  • Patent number: 10615174
    Abstract: A method comprises forming material to be etched over a substrate. An etch mask comprising a silicon nitride-comprising region is formed elevationally over the material. The etch mask comprises an elevationally-extending mask opening in the silicon nitride-comprising region that has a minimum horizontal open dimension that is greater in an elevationally-innermost portion of the region than in an elevationally-outermost portion of the region. The elevationally-outermost portion has a greater etch rate in at least one of HF and H3PO4 than does the elevationally-innermost portion. The etch mask is used as a mask while etching an elevationally-extending mask opening into the material. The silicon nitride-comprising region is exposed to at least one of HF and H3PO4 to increase the minimum horizontal open dimension in the elevationally-outermost portion to a greater degree than increase, if any, in the minimum horizontal open dimension in the elevationally-innermost portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Tom J. John, Kunal Shrotri, Anish A. Khandekar, Aaron R. Wilson, John D. Hopkins, Derek F. Lundberg