Patents by Inventor Bret K. Street

Bret K. Street 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: 11410973
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microelectronic device assembly comprising a substrate having conductors exposed on a surface thereof. Two or more microelectronic devices are stacked on the substrate, each microelectronic device comprising an active surface having bond pads operably coupled to conductive traces extending over a dielectric material to via locations beyond at least one side of the stack, and vias extending through the dielectric materials at the via locations and comprising conductive material in contact with at least some of the conductive traces of each of the two or more electronic devices and extending to exposed conductors of the substrate. Methods of fabrication and related electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Owen R. Fay, Randon K. Richards, Aparna U. Limaye, Dong Soon Lim, Chan H. Yoo, Bret K. Street, Eiichi Nakano, Shijian Luo
  • Patent number: 11410962
    Abstract: A thermocompression bonding (TCB) apparatus can include a wall having a height measured in a first direction and configured to be positioned between a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface of a semiconductor bonding apparatus. The apparatus can include a cavity at least partially surrounded by the wall, the cavity sized to receive a semiconductor substrate and a stack of semiconductor dies positioned between the semiconductor substrate and the first pressing surface, the stack of semiconductor dies and semiconductor substrate having a combined unpressed stack height as measured in the first direction. In some embodiments, the unpressed stack height is greater than the height of the wall, and the wall is configured to be contacted by the first pressing surface to limit movement of the first pressing surface toward the second pressing surface during a semiconductor bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Benjamin L. McClain, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20220246569
    Abstract: Systems and methods for semiconductor devices having a substrate with bond pads, a die pair in a stacked configuration above the bond pads and having a first die having an oxide layer, a second die having an oxide layer attached to the first oxide layer, and conductive bonds electrically coupling the dies. Interconnects extend between the bond pads and the die pair, electrically coupling die pair to the substrate. The device may include a second die pair electrically coupled to: (1) the first die pair with secondary interconnects; and (2) the substrate with through-silicon vias extending through the first die pair. The top die of a die pair may be a thick die for use at the top of a pair stack. Pairs may be created by matching dies of a first silicon wafer to dies of a second silicon wafer, combination bonding the wafers, and dicing the die pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Bret K. Street
  • Patent number: 11302653
    Abstract: A semiconductor device assembly that includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, the first side having at least one dummy pad and at least one electrical pad. The semiconductor device assembly includes a first semiconductor device having a first side and a second side and at least one electrical pillar extending from the second side. The electrical pillar is connected to the electrical pad via solder to form an electrical interconnect. The semiconductor device assembly includes at least one dummy pillar extending from the second side of the first semiconductor device and a liquid positioned between an end of the dummy pillar and the dummy pad. The surface tension of the liquid pulls the dummy pillar towards the dummy pad. The surface tension may reduce or minimize a warpage of the semiconductor device assembly and/or align the dummy pillar and the dummy pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bret K. Street, Wei Zhou, Christopher J. Gambee, Jonathan S. Hacker, Shijian Luo
  • Publication number: 20220102308
    Abstract: Systems and methods for semiconductor devices having a substrate with bond pads, a die pair in a stacked configuration above the bond pads and having a first die having an oxide layer, a second die having an oxide layer attached to the first oxide layer, and conductive bonds electrically coupling the dies. Interconnects extend between the bond pads and the die pair, electrically coupling die pair to the substrate. The device may include a second die pair electrically coupled to: (1) the first die pair with secondary interconnects; and (2) the substrate with through-silicon vias extending through the first die pair. The top die of a die pair may be a thick die for use at the top of a pair stack. Pairs may be created by matching dies of a first silicon wafer to dies of a second silicon wafer, combination bonding the wafers, and dicing the die pairs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Bret K. Street
  • Patent number: 11289440
    Abstract: Systems and methods for semiconductor devices having a substrate with bond pads, a die pair in a stacked configuration above the bond pads and having a first die having an oxide layer, a second die having an oxide layer attached to the first oxide layer, and conductive bonds electrically coupling the dies. Interconnects extend between the bond pads and the die pair, electrically coupling die pair to the substrate. The device may include a second die pair electrically coupled to: (1) the first die pair with secondary interconnects; and (2) the substrate with through-silicon vias extending through the first die pair. The top die of a die pair may be a thick die for use at the top of a pair stack. Pairs may be created by matching dies of a first silicon wafer to dies of a second silicon wafer, combination bonding the wafers, and dicing the die pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Bret K. Street
  • Patent number: 11114415
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first die; a second die attached over the first die; a metal enclosure directly contacting and extending between the first die and the second die, wherein the first metal enclosure is continuous and encircles a set of one or more internal interconnects, wherein the first metal enclosure is configured to electrically connect to a first voltage level; and a second metal enclosure directly contacting and extending between the first die and the second die, wherein the second metal enclosure is continuous and encircles the first metal enclosure and is configured to electrically connect to a second voltage level; wherein the first metal enclosure and the second metal enclosure are configured to provide an enclosure capacitance encircling the set of one or more internal interconnects for shielding signals on the set of one or more internal interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street
  • Publication number: 20210183716
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate; a die attached over the substrate; and a metal enclosure continuously encircling a space and extending vertically between the substrate and the die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20210118852
    Abstract: Disclosed is a microelectronic device assembly comprising a substrate having conductors exposed on a surface thereof. Two or more microelectronic devices are stacked on the substrate, each microelectronic device comprising an active surface having bond pads operably coupled to conductive traces extending over a dielectric material to via locations beyond at least one side of the stack, and vias extending through the dielectric materials at the via locations and comprising conductive material in contact with at least some of the conductive traces of each of the two or more electronic devices and extending to exposed conductors of the substrate. Methods of fabrication and related electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Owen R. Fay, Randon K. Richards, Aparna U. Limaye, Dong Soon Lim, Chan H. Yoo, Bret K. Street, Eiichi Nakano, Shijian Luo
  • Publication number: 20210091037
    Abstract: A thermocompression bonding (TCB) apparatus can include a wall having a height measured in a first direction and configured to be positioned between a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface of a semiconductor bonding apparatus. The apparatus can include a cavity at least partially surrounded by the wall, the cavity sized to receive a semiconductor substrate and a stack of semiconductor dies positioned between the semiconductor substrate and the first pressing surface, the stack of semiconductor dies and semiconductor substrate having a combined unpressed stack height as measured in the first direction. In some embodiments, the unpressed stack height is greater than the height of the wall, and the wall is configured to be contacted by the first pressing surface to limit movement of the first pressing surface toward the second pressing surface during a semiconductor bonding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Benjamin L. McClain, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20210074671
    Abstract: A thermocompression bonding (TCB) apparatus can include a wall having a height measured in a first direction and configured to be positioned between a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface of a semiconductor bonding apparatus. The apparatus can include a cavity at least partially surrounded by the wall, the cavity sized to receive a semiconductor substrate and a stack of semiconductor dies positioned between the semiconductor substrate and the first pressing surface, the stack of semiconductor dies and semiconductor substrate having a combined unpressed stack height as measured in the first direction. In some embodiments, the unpressed stack height is greater than the height of the wall, and the wall is configured to be contacted by the first pressing surface to limit movement of the first pressing surface toward the second pressing surface during a semiconductor bonding process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Benjamin L. McClain, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 10943842
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a substrate top surface; interconnects connected to the substrate and extending above the substrate top surface; a die attached over the substrate, wherein the die includes a die bottom surface that connects to the interconnects for electrically coupling the die and the substrate; and a metal enclosure directly contacting and vertically extending between the substrate top surface and the die bottom surface, wherein the metal enclosure peripherally surrounds the interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Publication number: 20210066212
    Abstract: A semiconductor device assembly including a shape-memory element connected to at least one component of the semiconductor device assembly. The shape-memory element may be temperature activated or electrically activated. The shape-memory element is configured to move to reduce, minimize, or modify a warpage of a component of the assembly by moving to an initial shape. The shape-memory element may be applied to a surface of a component of the semiconductor device assembly or may be positioned within a component of the semiconductor device assembly such as a layer. The shape-memory element may be connected between two components of the semiconductor device assembly. A plurality of shape-memory elements may be used to reduce, minimize, and/or modify warpage of one or more components of a semiconductor device assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Inventor: Bret K. Street
  • Patent number: 10861797
    Abstract: A semiconductor device assembly including a shape-memory element connected to at least one component of the semiconductor device assembly. The shape-memory element may be temperature activated or electrically activated. The shape-memory element is configured to move to reduce, minimize, or modify a warpage of a component of the assembly by moving to an initial shape. The shape-memory element may be applied to a surface of a component of the semiconductor device assembly or may be positioned within a component of the semiconductor device assembly such as a layer. The shape-memory element may be connected between two components of the semiconductor device assembly. A plurality of shape-memory elements may be used to reduce, minimize, and/or modify warpage of one or more components of a semiconductor device assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Bret K. Street
  • Publication number: 20200373252
    Abstract: A semiconductor device assembly that includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, the first side having at least one dummy pad and at least one electrical pad. The semiconductor device assembly includes a first semiconductor device having a first side and a second side and at least one electrical pillar extending from the second side. The electrical pillar is connected to the electrical pad via solder to form an electrical interconnect. The semiconductor device assembly includes at least one dummy pillar extending from the second side of the first semiconductor device and a liquid positioned between an end of the dummy pillar and the dummy pad. The surface tension of the liquid pulls the dummy pillar towards the dummy pad. The surface tension may reduce or minimize a warpage of the semiconductor device assembly and/or align the dummy pillar and the dummy pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Bret K. Street, Wei Zhou, Christopher J. Gambee, Jonathan S. Hacker, Shijian Luo
  • Patent number: 10840209
    Abstract: A thermocompression bonding (TCB) apparatus can include a wall having a height measured in a first direction and configured to be positioned between a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface of a semiconductor bonding apparatus. The apparatus can include a cavity at least partially surrounded by the wall, the cavity sized to receive a semiconductor substrate and a stack of semiconductor dies positioned between the semiconductor substrate and the first pressing surface, the stack of semiconductor dies and semiconductor substrate having a combined unpressed stack height as measured in the first direction. In some embodiments, the unpressed stack height is greater than the height of the wall, and the wall is configured to be contacted by the first pressing surface to limit movement of the first pressing surface toward the second pressing surface during a semiconductor bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Benjamin L. McClain, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 10840210
    Abstract: A thermocompression bonding (TCB) apparatus can include a wall having a height measured in a first direction and configured to be positioned between a first pressing surface and a second pressing surface of a semiconductor bonding apparatus. The apparatus can include a cavity at least partially surrounded by the wall, the cavity sized to receive a semiconductor substrate and a stack of semiconductor dies positioned between the semiconductor substrate and the first pressing surface, the stack of semiconductor dies and semiconductor substrate having a combined unpressed stack height as measured in the first direction. In some embodiments, the unpressed stack height is greater than the height of the wall, and the wall is configured to be contacted by the first pressing surface to limit movement of the first pressing surface toward the second pressing surface during a semiconductor bonding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Benjamin L. McClain, Mark E. Tuttle
  • Patent number: 10748857
    Abstract: A semiconductor device assembly that includes a substrate having a first side and a second side, the first side having at least one dummy pad and at least one electrical pad. The semiconductor device assembly includes a first semiconductor device having a first side and a second side and at least one electrical pillar extending from the second side. The electrical pillar is connected to the electrical pad via solder to form an electrical interconnect. The semiconductor device assembly includes at least one dummy pillar extending from the second side of the first semiconductor device and a liquid positioned between an end of the dummy pillar and the dummy pad. The surface tension of the liquid pulls the dummy pillar towards the dummy pad. The surface tension may reduce or minimize a warpage of the semiconductor device assembly and/or align the dummy pillar and the dummy pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bret K. Street, Wei Zhou, Christopher J. Gambee, Jonathan S. Hacker, Shijian Luo
  • Patent number: 10741528
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first die; a first metal enclosure directly contacting and vertically extending below the first die, wherein the first metal enclosure peripherally encircles a first enclosed space; a second die directly contacting the first metal enclosure opposite the first die; a second metal enclosure directly contacting and vertically extending below the second die, wherein the second metal enclosure peripherally encircles a second enclosed space; and an enclosure connection mechanism directly contacting the first metal enclosure and the second metal enclosure for electrically coupling the first metal enclosure and the second metal enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street
  • Publication number: 20200219851
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first die; a second die attached over the first die; a metal enclosure directly contacting and extending between the first die and the second die, wherein the first metal enclosure is continuous and encircles a set of one or more internal interconnects, wherein the first metal enclosure is configured to electrically connect to a first voltage level; and a second metal enclosure directly contacting and extending between the first die and the second die, wherein the second metal enclosure is continuous and encircles the first metal enclosure and is configured to electrically connect to a second voltage level; wherein the first metal enclosure and the second metal enclosure are configured to provide an enclosure capacitance encircling the set of one or more internal interconnects for shielding signals on the set of one or more internal interconnects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street