Patents by Inventor Dan B. Millward

Dan B. Millward 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: 9229328
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device structure comprises forming a template material over a substrate, the template material exhibiting preferential wetting to a polymer block of a block copolymer. A positive tone photoresist material is formed over the template material. The positive tone photoresist material is exposed to radiation to form photoexposed regions and non-photoexposed regions of the positive tone photoresist material. The non-photoexposed regions of the positive tone photoresist material are removed with a negative tone developer to form a pattern of photoresist features. The pattern of photoresist features and unprotected portions of the template material are exposed to an oxidizing plasma to form trimmed photoresist features and a pattern of template features. The trimmed photoresist features are removed with a positive tone developer. Other methods of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjan Khurana, Gurpreet S. Lugani, Dan B. Millward
  • Publication number: 20150380260
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure comprises a first self-assembled block copolymer material within a trench in a substrate and a second self-assembled block copolymer material overlying the first self-assembled block copolymer material. The first self-assembled block copolymer material comprises self-assembled polymer domains registered to sidewalls of the trench and extending a length of the trench. The second self-assembled block copolymer material comprises self-assembled polymer domains overlying and registered to the self-assembled polymer domains of the first self-assembled block copolymer material. The first self-assembled block copolymer material comprises a different material from the first self-assembled block copolymer material. A template comprises lines extending a length of a trench in a substrate and separated by openings exposing a floor of the trench in a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Publication number: 20150303255
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of openings in a substrate. The method comprises forming a template structure comprising a plurality of parallel features and a plurality of additional parallel features perpendicularly intersecting the plurality of additional parallel features of the plurality over a substrate to define wells, each of the plurality of parallel features having substantially the same dimensions and relative spacing as each of the plurality of additional parallel features. A block copolymer material is formed in each of the wells. The block copolymer material is processed to form a patterned polymer material defining a pattern of openings. The pattern of openings is transferred to the substrate to form an array of openings in the substrate. A method of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 9140977
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a first region and a second region. Imaging features in the first region and assist features in the second region are substantially the same size as one another and are formed substantially on pitch. Methods of forming an imaging device and methods of forming a semiconductor device structure are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Yuan He, Kaveri Jain, Lijing Gou, Zishu Zhang, Anton J. deVilliers, Michael Hyatt, Jianming Zhou, Scott L. Light, Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 9142420
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale arrays of openings and linear microchannels utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. Embodiments of the invention use a self-templating or multilayer approach to induce ordering of a self-assembling block copolymer film to an underlying base film to produce a multilayered film having an ordered array of nanostructures that can be removed to provide openings in the film which, in some embodiments, can be used as a template or mask to etch openings in an underlying material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 9087699
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of openings in a substrate. The method comprises forming a template structure comprising a plurality of parallel features and a plurality of additional parallel features perpendicularly intersecting the plurality of additional parallel features of the plurality over a substrate to define wells, each of the plurality of parallel features having substantially the same dimensions and relative spacing as each of the plurality of additional parallel features. A block copolymer material is formed in each of the wells. The block copolymer material is processed to form a patterned polymer material defining a pattern of openings. The pattern of openings is transferred to the substrate to form an array of openings in the substrate. A method of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Publication number: 20150191034
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating stamps and systems for patterning a substrate, and devices resulting from those methods are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Dan B. Millward, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20150137331
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures in line arrays utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. Semiconductor structures may include self-assembled block copolymer materials in the form of lines of half-cylinders of a minority block matrix of a majority block of the block copolymer. The lines of half-cylinders may be within trenches in the semiconductor structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Dan B. Millward, Donald L. Westmoreland
  • Publication number: 20150118821
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device structure comprises forming a mold template comprising trenches within a mold material. Structures are formed within the trenches of the mold template. A wet removal process is performed to remove the mold template, a liquid material of the wet removal process remaining at least in spaces between adjacent pairs of the structures following the wet removal process. A polymer material is formed at least in the spaces between the adjacent pairs of the structures. At least one dry removal process is performed to remove the polymer material from at least the spaces between the adjacent pairs of the structures. Additional methods of forming a semiconductor device structure, and methods of forming capacitor structures are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan B. Millward, J. Neil Greeley
  • Patent number: 8999492
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating stamps and systems for patterning a substrate, and devices resulting from those methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan B. Millward, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8993088
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures in line arrays utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. Semiconductor structures may include self-assembled block copolymer materials in the form of lines of half-cylinders of a minority block matrix of a majority block of the block copolymer. The lines of half-cylinders may be within trenches in the semiconductor structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan B. Millward, Donald L. Westmoreland
  • Publication number: 20150076436
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device structure. The method comprises forming a block copolymer assembly comprising at least two different domains over an electrode. At least one metal precursor is selectively coupled to the block copolymer assembly to form a metal-complexed block copolymer assembly comprising at least one metal-complexed domain and at least one non-metal-complexed domain. The metal-complexed block copolymer assembly is annealed in to form at least one metal structure. Other methods of forming a semiconductor device structures are described. Semiconductor device structures are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 8956713
    Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate is disclosed. An ink material is chemisorbed to at least one region of a stamp and the chemisorbed ink material is transferred to a receptor substrate. The ink material has greater chemical affinity for the receptor substrate than for the at least one region of the stamp. A method of forming the stamp is also disclosed, as are the stamp and a patterning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 8945700
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating sublithographic, nanoscale microstructures in line arrays utilizing self-assembling block copolymers, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided. Semiconductor structures may include self-assembled block copolymer materials in the form of lines of half-cylinders of a minority block matrix of a majority block of the block copolymer. The lines of half-cylinders may be within trenches in the semiconductor structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan B. Millward, Donald L. Westmoreland
  • Patent number: 8900963
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device structure. The method comprises forming a block copolymer assembly comprising at least two different domains over an electrode. At least one metal precursor is selectively coupled to the block copolymer assembly to form a metal-complexed block copolymer assembly comprising at least one metal-complexed domain and at least one non-metal-complexed domain. The metal-complexed block copolymer assembly is annealed in to form at least one metal structure. Other methods of forming a semiconductor device structures are described. Semiconductor device structures are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Dan B. Millward
  • Publication number: 20140329179
    Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor device structure comprises forming a template material over a substrate, the template material exhibiting preferential wetting to a polymer block of a block copolymer. A positive tone photoresist material is formed over the template material. The positive tone photoresist material is exposed to radiation to form photoexposed regions and non-photoexposed regions of the positive tone photoresist material. The non-photoexposed regions of the positive tone photoresist material are removed with a negative tone developer to form a pattern of photoresist features. The pattern of photoresist features and unprotected portions of the template material are exposed to an oxidizing plasma to form trimmed photoresist features and a pattern of template features. The trimmed photoresist features are removed with a positive tone developer. Other methods of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ranjan Khurana, Gurpreet S. Lugani, Dan B. Millward
  • Publication number: 20140290858
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating sub-lithographic, nanoscale microchannels utilizing an aqueous emulsion of an amphiphilic agent and a water-soluble, hydrogel-forming polymer, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Publication number: 20140246759
    Abstract: Methods for adhering materials and methods for enhancing adhesion between materials are disclosed. In some embodiments, a polymer brush material is bonded to a base material, and a developable polymer resist material is applied over the grafted polymer brush material. The resist material is at least partially miscible in the grafted polymer brush material. As such, the resist material at least partially dissolves within the grafted polymer brush material to form an intertwined material of grafted polymer brush macromolecules and resist polymer macromolecules. Adhesion between the developable polymer resist and the base material may be thereby enhanced. Also disclosed are related semiconductor device structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 8801894
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating sub-lithographic, nanoscale microchannels utilizing an aqueous emulsion of an amphiphilic agent and a water-soluble, hydrogel-forming polymer, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward
  • Patent number: 8784974
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating sub-lithographic, nanoscale microchannels utilizing an aqueous emulsion of an amphiphilic agent and a water-soluble, hydrogel-forming polymer, and films and devices formed from these methods are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Dan B. Millward