Patents by Inventor Collin Howder

Collin Howder 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: 11690226
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a stack of memory cell levels. A pair of channel-material-pillars extend through the stack. A source structure is under the stack. The source structure includes a portion having an upper region, a lower region, and an intermediate region between the upper and lower regions. The upper and lower regions have a same composition and join to one another at edge locations. The intermediate region has a different composition than the upper and lower regions. The edge locations are directly against the channel material of the channel-material-pillars. Some embodiments include methods of forming an integrated assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Gordon A. Haller
  • Patent number: 11678483
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. First charge-blocking material is formed to extend elevationally along the vertically-alternating tiers. The first charge-blocking material has k of at least 7.0 and comprises a metal oxide. A second charge-blocking material is formed laterally inward of the first charge-blocking material. The second charge-blocking material has k less than 7.0. Storage material is formed laterally inward of the second charge-blocking material. Insulative charge-passage material is formed laterally inward of the storage material. Channel material is formed to extend elevationally along the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers laterally inward of the insulative charge-passage material. Structure embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bharat Bhushan, Chris M. Carlson, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20230062403
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers above a conductor tier. Strings of memory cells comprise channel-material strings that extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The channel-material strings directly electrically couple with conductor material of the conductor tier by conducting material that is in a lowest of the conductive tiers and that is directly against multiple of the channel-material strings. A through-array-via (TAV) region comprises TAVs that individually extend through the lowest conductive tier and into the conductor tier. Individual of the TAVs in the lowest conductive tier comprise a conductive core having an annulus circumferentially there-about. The annulus has dopant therein at a total dopant concentration of 0.01 to 30 atomic percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins, Chet E. Carter, Justin D. Shepherdson, Collin Howder, Joshua Wolanyk
  • Publication number: 20230055319
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a lower portion of a stack that will comprise vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Material of the first tiers is of different composition from material of the second tiers. The lower portion comprises an upper second tier comprising insulative material. The vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers of an upper portion of the stack are formed above the lower portion. Channel-material strings are formed that extend through the upper portion to the lower portion. Horizontally-elongated lines are formed in the upper second tier longitudinally-along opposing lateral edges of the memory-block regions. Material of the lines is of different composition. from that of the insulative material in the upper second tier that is laterally-between the lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins, Collin Howder, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20230057852
    Abstract: Integrated circuitry comprising a memory array comprises strings of memory cells comprising laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a first vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers above a conductor tier. Strings of memory cells comprise channel-material strings that extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The channel-material strings directly electrically couple with conductor material of the conductor tier. The conductive tiers individually comprise a horizontally-elongated conductive line. A second vertical stack is aside the first vertical stack. The second vertical stack comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion comprises vertically-alternating first insulating tiers and second insulating tiers that are of different insulative compositions relative one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, M. Jared Barclay, Bhavesh Bhartia, Chet E. Carter, John D. Hopkins, Andrew Li, Haoyu Li, Alyssa N. Scarbrough, Grady S. Waldo
  • Publication number: 20230005956
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies. A conductive structure is formed to include a semiconductor-containing material over a metal-containing material. An opening is formed to extend into the conductive structure. A conductive material is formed along a bottom of the opening. A stack of alternating first and second materials is formed over the conductive structure either before or after forming the conductive material. Insulative material and/or channel material is formed to extend through the stack to contact the conductive material. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin D. Shepherdson, Collin Howder, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11545430
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a conductor tier comprising conductor material on a substrate. A lower portion of a stack is formed, with the stack ultimately comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers above the conductor tier. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Material of the first tiers is of different composition from material of the second tiers. A lowest of the first tiers comprises conductive first sacrificial material. Conductive second material is directly electrically coupled to the conductive first sacrificial material. The conductive first sacrificial material and the conductive second material have different reduction potentials that are at least 0.5V away from one another. A lowest of the second tiers is insulative and below the lowest first tier. The vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers of an upper portion of the stack are formed above the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, John D. Hopkins, Alyssa N. Scarbrough
  • Patent number: 11538822
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies. A conductive structure is formed to include a semiconductor-containing material over a metal-containing material. An opening is formed to extend into the conductive structure. A conductive material is formed along a bottom of the opening. A stack of alternating first and second materials is formed over the conductive structure either before or after forming the conductive material. Insulative material and/or channel material is formed to extend through the stack to contact the conductive material. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin D. Shepherdson, Collin Howder, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11527550
    Abstract: A memory array comprises a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The wordline tiers comprise gate regions of individual memory cells. The gate regions individually comprise part of a wordline in individual of the wordline tiers. Channel material extends elevationally through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. The individual memory cells comprise a memory structure laterally between the gate region and the channel material. Individual of the wordlines comprise opposing laterally-outer longitudinal edges. The longitudinal edges individually comprise a longitudinally-elongated recess extending laterally into the respective individual wordline. Methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Changhan Kim, Richard J. Hill, John D. Hopkins, Collin Howder
  • Patent number: 11495610
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The second tiers comprise doped silicon dioxide and the first tiers comprise a material other than doped silicon dioxide. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Channel-material-string constructions extend through the first tiers and the second tiers in the memory-block regions. The doped silicon dioxide that is in the second tiers is etched selectively relative to said other material that is in the first tiers and selectively relative to and to expose an undoped silicon dioxide-comprising string of a charge-blocking material that is part of individual of the channel-material-string constructions. Structure independent of method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Shyam Surthi, Matthew Thorum
  • Publication number: 20220336485
    Abstract: A microelectronic device may include a source structure and a stack structure. The stack structure may include a vertically alternating sequence of insulative structures and conductive structures. Filled slits may extend through the stack structure and into the source structure, the slits dividing the stack structure into multiple blocks. Memory cell pillars may extend through the stack structure and into the source structure, the memory cell pillars and the filled slits terminated at substantially the same depth within the source structure as one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Justin D. Shepherdson, Chet E. Carter
  • Publication number: 20220262678
    Abstract: A method used in forming a conductive via of integrated circuitry comprises forming a lining laterally over sidewalls of an elevationally-elongated opening. The lining comprises elemental-form silicon. The elemental-form silicon of an uppermost portion of the lining is ion implanted in the elevationally-elongated opening. The ion-implanted elemental-form silicon of the uppermost portion of the lining is etched selectively relative to the elemental-form silicon of a lower portion of the lining below the uppermost portion that was not subjected to said ion implanting. The elemental-form silicon of the lower portion of the lining is reacted with a metal halide to form elemental-form metal in a lower portion of the elevationally-elongated opening that is the metal from the metal halide. Conductive material in the elevationally-elongated opening is formed atop and directly against the elemental-form metal. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yiping Wang, Jordan D. Greenlee, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20220254810
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a stack of memory cell levels. A pair of channel-material-pillars extend through the stack. A source structure is under the stack. The source structure includes a portion having an upper region, a lower region, and an intermediate region between the upper and lower regions. The upper and lower regions have a same composition and join to one another at edge locations. The intermediate region has a different composition than the upper and lower regions. The edge locations are directly against the channel material of the channel-material-pillars. Some embodiments include methods of forming an integrated assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Gordon A. Haller
  • Patent number: 11411015
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprises forming a substrate comprising a conductor tier comprising upper conductor material, lower metal material, and intervening metal material vertically between the upper conductor material and the lower metal material. The intervening metal material, the upper conductor material, and the lower metal material are of different compositions relative one another. The intervening metal material has a reduction potential that is less than 0.7V away from the reduction potential of the upper conductor material. A stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers is formed above the conductor tier. Channel material is formed through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed through the stack to the conductor tier. Elevationally-extending strings of memory cells are formed in the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Chet E. Carter
  • Publication number: 20220238548
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of insulative and conductive structures arranged in tiers. At least one pillar, comprising a channel material, extends through the stack structure. A source region, below the stack structure, comprises a doped material with vertical extensions that protrude to an interface with the channel material at an elevation proximate at least one source-side GIDL region. Slit structures extend through the stack structure to divide the structure into blocks of pillar arrays. A series of spaced, discrete pedestal structures are included along a base of the slit structures. Forming the microelectronic device structure may include forming a lateral opening through cell materials of the pillar, vertically recessing the channel material, and laterally recessing other material(s) of the pillar before forming the doped material in the broadened recesses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Haitao Liu, Litao Yang, Albert Fayrushin, Naveen Kaushik, Jian Li, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20220238684
    Abstract: Electronic devices comprising a doped dielectric material adjacent to a source contact, tiers of alternating conductive materials and dielectric materials adjacent to the doped dielectric material, and pillars extending through the tiers, the doped dielectric material, and the source contact and into the source stack. Related methods and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael A. Lindemann, Collin Howder, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Richard J. Hill
  • Publication number: 20220238444
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure, a staircase structure, conductive pad structures, and conductive contact structures. The stack structure includes vertically alternating conductive structures and insulating structures arranged in tiers. Each of the tiers individually includes one of the conductive structures and one of the insulating structures. The staircase structure has steps made up of edges of at least some of the tiers of the stack structure. The conductive pad structures are on the steps of the staircase structure and include beta phase tungsten. The conductive contact structures are on the conductive pad structures. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming microelectronic devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, Lifang Xu, Daniel Billingsley, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20220231046
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprises forming a substrate comprising a conductor tier comprising an upper conductor material and a lower conductor material, and a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers above the conductor tier. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed through the stack to the upper conductor material and the lower conductor material. At least one of the upper and lower conductor materials have an exposed catalytic surface in the trenches. Metal material is electrolessly deposited onto the catalytic surface to cover the upper conductor material and the lower conductor material within the trenches. Channel-material strings of memory cells are formed and extend through the second tiers and the first tiers. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Chet E. Carter
  • Publication number: 20220199645
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an assembly (e.g., a memory array). A first opening is formed through a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels contain silicon nitride, and the second levels contain silicon dioxide. Some of the silicon dioxide of the second levels is replaced with memory cell structures. The memory cell structures include charge-storage regions adjacent charge-blocking regions. Tunneling material is formed within the first opening, and channel material is formed adjacent the tunneling material. A second opening is formed through the stack. The second opening extends through remaining portions of the silicon dioxide, and through the silicon nitride. The remaining portions of the silicon dioxide are removed to form cavities. Conductive regions are formed within the cavities. The silicon nitride is removed to form voids between the conductive regions. Some embodiments include memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Changhan Kim, Chet E. Carter, Cole Smith, Collin Howder, Richard J. Hill, Jie Li
  • Patent number: 11355392
    Abstract: A method used in forming a conductive via of integrated circuitry comprises forming a lining laterally over sidewalk of an elevationally-elongated opening. The lining comprises elemental-form silicon. The elemental-form silicon of an uppermost portion of the lining is ion implanted in the elevationally-elongated opening. The ion-implanted elemental-form silicon of the uppermost portion of the lining is etched selectively relative to the elemental-form silicon of a lower portion of the lining below the uppermost portion that was not subjected to said ion implanting. The elemental-form silicon of the lower portion of the lining is reacted with a metal halide to form elemental-form metal in a lower portion of the elevationally-elongated opening that is the metal from the metal halide. Conductive material in the elevationally-elongated opening is formed atop and directly against the elemental-form metal. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventors: Yiping Wang, Jordan D. Greenlee, Collin Howder