Patents by Inventor Christopher W. Hill

Christopher W. Hill 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: 20030092248
    Abstract: A process for enhanced selective deposition of a silicon oxide onto a substrate by pulsing delivery of the reactants through a linear injector is disclosed. The silicon oxide layer is formed by the ozone decomposition of TEOS at relatively low temperatures and relatively high pressures. The ozone delivery is pulsed on and off. Optionally, the delivery of the ozone and the delivery of the TEOS are pulsed on and off alternately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: William Budge, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Christopher W. Hill
  • Patent number: 6503851
    Abstract: A process for enhanced selective deposition of a silicon oxide onto a substrate by pulsing delivery of the reactants through a linear injector is disclosed. The silicon oxide layer is formed by the ozone decomposition of TEOS at relatively low temperatures and relatively high pressures. The ozone delivery is pulsed on and off. Optionally, the delivery of the ozone and the delivery of the TEOS are pulsed on and off alternately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Budge, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Christopher W. Hill
  • Publication number: 20020098633
    Abstract: A process for selectively depositing a silicon oxide layer onto silicon substrates of different conductivity types is disclosed. The silicon oxide layer is formed by the ozone decomposition of TEOS at relatively low temperatures and relatively high pressures. Use of the process to produce layers, spacers, memory units, and gates is also disclosed, as well as the structures so produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: William Budge, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Christopher W. Hill
  • Publication number: 20020072229
    Abstract: A process for the in situ formation of a selective contact and a local interconnect on a semiconductor substrate. The exposed semiconductor substrate regions of a semiconductor device structure may be treated in a plasma to enhance the adhesiveness of a selective contact thereto. The semiconductor device structure is positioned within a reaction chamber, wherein a selective contact is deposited onto the exposed semiconductor substrate regions. Any residual selective contact material may be removed from oxide surfaces either intermediately or after selective contact deposition. While the semiconductor device remains in the reaction chamber, a local interconnect is deposited over the semiconductor device structure. The local interconnect may then be patterned. Subsequent layers may be deposited over the local interconnect. The present invention also includes semiconductor device structures formed by the inventive process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Christopher W. Hill, Weimin li, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20020063283
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit on a wafer includes forming a gate electrode stack over a gate dielectric and forming nitride spacers along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls. Subsequently, a reoxidation process is performed with respect to the gate dielectric. By providing the nitride spacers along exposed surfaces of conductive barrier and metal layers of the word line stack, those surfaces can be passivated, thereby preventing or reducing the conversion of those layers to non-conductive compounds during the reoxidation process. At the same time, the nitride spacers can be formed so that they do not interfere with the subsequent reoxidation of the gate dielectric. An integrated circuit having a gate electrode stack with nitride spacers extending along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Inventors: Pai-Hung Pan, Martin C. Roberts, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Weimin Li, Christopher W. Hill, Vishnu K. Agarwal
  • Patent number: 6372643
    Abstract: A process for the in situ formation of a selective contact and a local interconnect on a semiconductor substrate. The exposed semiconductor substrate regions of a semiconductor device structure may be treated in a plasma to enhance the adhesiveness of a selective contact thereto. The semiconductor device structure is positioned within a reaction chamber, wherein a selective contact is deposited onto the exposed semiconductor substrate regions, Any residual selective contact material may be removed from oxide surfaces either intermediately or after selective contact deposition. While the semiconductor device remains in the reaction chamber, a local interconnect is deposited over the semiconductor device structure. The local interconnect may then be patterned. Subsequent layers may be deposited over the local interconnect. The present invention also includes semiconductor device structures formed by the inventive process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher W. Hill, Weimin Li, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 6368986
    Abstract: A process for selectively depositing a silicon oxide layer onto silicon substrates of different conductivity types is disclosed. The silicon oxide layer is formed by the ozone decomposition of TEOS at relatively low temperatures and relatively high pressures. Use of the process to produce layers, spacers, memory units, and gates is also disclosed, as well as the structures so produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Budge, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Christopher W. Hill
  • Publication number: 20020025666
    Abstract: A process for selectively depositing a silicon oxide layer onto silicon substrates of different conductivity types is disclosed. The silicon oxide layer is formed by the ozone decomposition of TEOS at relatively low temperatures and relatively high pressures. Use of the process to produce layers, spacers, memory units, and gates is also disclosed, as well as the structures so produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: William Budge, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Christopher W. Hill
  • Publication number: 20020025692
    Abstract: A process for enhanced selective deposition of a silicon oxide onto a substrate by pulsing delivery of the reactants through a linear injector is disclosed. The silicon oxide layer is formed by the ozone decomposition of TEOS at relatively low temperatures and relatively high pressures. The ozone delivery is pulsed on and off. Optionally, the delivery of the ozone and the delivery of the TEOS are pulsed on and off alternately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: William Budge, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Christopher W. Hill
  • Patent number: 6198144
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit on a wafer includes forming a gate electrode stack over a gate dielectric and forming nitride spacers along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls. Subsequently, a reoxidation process is performed with respect to the gate dielectric. By providing the nitride spacers along exposed surfaces of conductive barrier and metal layers of the word line stack, those surfaces can be passivated, thereby preventing or reducing the conversion of those layers to non-conductive compounds during the reoxidation process. At the same time, the nitride spacers can be formed so that they do not interfere with the subsequent reoxidation of the gate dielectric. An integrated circuit having a gate electrode stack with nitride spacers extending along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Pai-Hung Pan, Martin C. Roberts, Gurtei S. Sandhu, Weimin Li, Christopher W. Hill, Vishnu K. Agarwal
  • Patent number: 5960303
    Abstract: A process for forming a titanium silicide interconnect includes applying a layer of polysilicon over a semiconductor layer. A layer of titanium silicide is formed over the layer of polysilicon. The layer of polysilicon and the layer of titanium silicide are etched to form a desired patterned structure. The exposed portions of the layer of titanium silicide are nitrified to form a thin layer of titanium nitride. The titanium nitride encapsulates the titanium silicide thereby improving the chemical and thermal properties of the interconnect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher W. Hill
  • Patent number: 4784973
    Abstract: A titanium silicide/titanium nitride process is disclosed wherein the thickness of the titanium nitride can be regulated with respect to the titanium silicide. In particular, a control layer is formed in the contact opening during a reactive cycle to form a relatively thin (20 to 50 angstrom) control layer. Titanium is thereafter deposited and in another thermal reaction the control layer retards the development of titanium silicide without retarding the development of titanium nitride so that the thickness of titanium silicide is kept small. A double titanium process can also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: INMOS Corporation
    Inventors: E. Henry Stevens, Paul J. McClure, Christopher W. Hill