Patents by Inventor Darwin A. Clampitt

Darwin A. Clampitt 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: 6933552
    Abstract: A honeycomb/webbed, high surface area capacitor formed by etching a storage poly using an etch mask having a plurality of micro vias. The etch mask is preferably formed by applying an HSG polysilicon layer on a surface of the storage poly with a mask layer being deposited over the HSG polysilicon layer. An upper portion of the mask layer is removed to expose the uppermost portions of the HSG polysilicon layer and the exposed HSG polysilicon layer portions are then etched, which translates the pattern of the exposed HSG polysilicon layer portions into the storage poly. The capacitor is completed by depositing a dielectric material layer over the storage poly layer and depositing a cell poly layer over the dielectric material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Green, Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6919612
    Abstract: An improved isolation structure for use in an integrated circuit and a method for making the same is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an silicon dioxide, polysilicon, silicon dioxide stack is formed on a crystalline silicon substrate. The active areas are etched to expose the substrate, and sidewall oxides are formed on the resulting stacks to define the isolation structures, which in a preferred embodiment constitute dielectric boxes containing the polysilicon in their centers. Epitaxial silicon is grown on the exposed areas of substrate so that it is substantially as thick as the isolation structure, and these grown areas define the active areas of the substrate upon which electrical structures such as transistors can be formed. While the dielectric box provides isolation, further isolation can be provided by placing a contact to the polysilicon within the box and by providing a bias voltage to the polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, Shawn D. Lyonsmith, Regan S. Tsui
  • Publication number: 20050059208
    Abstract: A high dielectric constant memory cell capacitor and method for producing the same, wherein the memory cell capacitor utilizes relatively large surface area conductive structures of thin spacer width pillars or having edges without sharp corners that lead to electric field breakdown of the high dielectric constant material. The combination of high dielectric constant material in a memory cell along with a relatively large surface area conductive structure is achieved through the use of a buffer material as caps on the thin edge surfaces of the relatively large surface area conductive structures to dampen or eliminate the intense electric field which would be generated at the corners of the structures during the operation of the memory cell capacitor had the caps not been present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2004
    Publication date: March 17, 2005
    Inventor: Darwin Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6815754
    Abstract: A high dielectric constant memory cell capacitor and method for producing the same, wherein the memory cell capacitor utilizes relatively large surface area conductive structures of thin spacer width pillars or having edges without sharp corners that lead to electric field breakdown of the high dielectric constant material. The combination of high dielectric constant material in a memory cell along with a relatively large surface area conductive structure is achieved through the use of a buffer material as caps on the thin edge surfaces of the relatively large surface area conductive structures to dampen or eliminate the intense electric field which would be generated at the corners of the structures during the operation of the memory cell capacitor had the caps not been present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6790738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuits and, in particular, to capacitor arrays formed over the bit line of an integrated circuit substrate. The present invention provides a method for forming stacked capacitors, in which a plurality of patterned capacitor outlines, or walls, are formed over the bit line of a semiconductor device. In one aspect of the invention, spacers are formed on the patterned capacitor outlines and become part of the cell poly after being covered with cell nitride. In another aspect, the spacers are formed of a material capable of being etched back, such as titanium nitride. In another aspect, a metal layer is patterned and annealed to a polysilicon layer to form a mask for a capacitor array, and subsequently etched to form the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6756283
    Abstract: A honeycomb/webbed, high surface area capacitor formed by etching a storage poly using an etch mask having a plurality of micro vias. The etch mask is preferably formed by applying an HSG polysilicon layer on a surface of the storage poly with a mask layer being deposited over the HSG polysilicon layer. An upper portion of the mask layer is removed to expose the uppermost portions of the HSG polysilicon layer and the exposed HSG polysilicon layer portions are then etched, which translates the pattern of the exposed HSG polysilicon layer portions into the storage poly. The capacitor is completed by depositing a dielectric material layer over the storage poly layer and depositing a cell poly layer over the dielectric material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Green, Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Publication number: 20040110339
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuits and, in particular, to capacitor arrays formed over the bit line of an integrated circuit substrate. The present invention provides a method for forming stacked capacitors, in which a plurality of patterned capacitor outlines, or walls, are formed over the bit line of a semiconductor device. In one aspect of the invention, spacers are formed on the patterned capacitor outlines and become part of the cell poly after being covered with cell nitride. In another aspect, the spacers are formed of a material capable of being etched back, such as titanium nitride. In another aspect, a metal layer is patterned and annealed to a polysilicon layer to form a mask for a capacitor array, and subsequently etched to form the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6723602
    Abstract: A high dielectric constant memory cell capacitor and method for producing the same, wherein the memory cell capacitor utilizes relatively large surface area conductive structures of thin spacer width pillars or having edges without sharp corners that lead to electric field breakdown of the high dielectric constant material. The combination of high dielectric constant material in a memory cell along with a relatively large surface area conductive structure is achieved through the use of a buffer material as caps on the thin edge surfaces of the relatively large surface area conductive structures to dampen or eliminate the intense electric field which would be generated at the corners of the structures during the operation of the memory cell capacitor had the caps not been present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6716719
    Abstract: An improved isolation structure for use in an integrated circuit and a method for making the same is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an silicon dioxide, polysilicon, silicon dioxide stack is formed on a crystalline silicon substrate. The active areas are etched to expose the substrate, and sidewall oxides are formed on the resulting stacks to define the isolation structures, which in a preferred embodiment constitute dielectric boxes containing the polysilicon in their centers. Epitaxial silicon is grown on the exposed areas of substrate so that it is substantially as thick as the isolation structure, and these grown areas define the active areas of the substrate upon which electrical structures such as transistors can be formed. While the dielectric box provides isolation, further isolation can be provided by placing a contact to the polysilicon within the box and by providing a bias voltage to the polysilicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, Shawn D. Lyonsmith, Regan S. Tsui
  • Patent number: 6686235
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuits and, in particular, to capacitor arrays formed over the bit line of an integrated circuit substrate. The present invention provides a method for forming stacked capacitors, in which a plurality of patterned capacitor outlines, or walls, are formed over the bit line of a semiconductor device. In one aspect of the invention, spacers are formed on the patterned capacitor outlines and become part of the cell poly after being covered with cell nitride. In another aspect, the spacers are formed of a material capable of being etched back, such as titanium nitride. In another aspect, a metal layer is patterned and annealed to a polysilicon layer to form a mask for a capacitor array, and subsequently etched to form the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6680502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuits and, in particular, to capacitor arrays formed over the bit line of an integrated circuit substrate. The present invention provides a method for forming stacked capacitors, in which a plurality of patterned capacitor outlines, or walls, are formed over the bit line of a semiconductor device. In one aspect of the invention, spacers are formed on the patterned capacitor outlines and become part of the cell poly after being covered with cell nitride. In another aspect, the spacers are formed of a material capable of being etched back, such as titanium nitride. In another aspect, a metal layer is patterned and annealed to a polysilicon layer to form a mask for a capacitor array, and subsequently etched to form the array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Publication number: 20030224569
    Abstract: An improved isolation structure for use in an integrated circuit and a method for making the same is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an silicon dioxide, polysilicon, silicon dioxide stack is formed on a crystalline silicon substrate. The active areas are etched to expose the substrate, and sidewall oxides are formed on the resulting stacks to define the isolation structures, which in a preferred embodiment constitute dielectric boxes containing the polysilicon in their centers. Epitaxial silicon is grown on the exposed areas of substrate so that it is substantially as thick as the isolation structure, and these grown areas define the active areas of the substrate upon which electrical structures such as transistors can be formed. While the dielectric box provides isolation, further isolation can be provided by placing a contact to the polysilicon within the box and by providing a bias voltage to the polysilicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, Shawn D. Lyonsmith, Regan S. Tsui
  • Publication number: 20030224566
    Abstract: An improved isolation structure for use in an integrated circuit and a method for making the same is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, an silicon dioxide, polysilicon, silicon dioxide stack is formed on a crystalline silicon substrate. The active areas are etched to expose the substrate, and sidewall oxides are formed on the resulting stacks to define the isolation structures, which in a preferred embodiment constitute dielectric boxes containing the polysilicon in their centers. Epitaxial silicon is grown on the exposed areas of substrate so that it is substantially as thick as the isolation structure, and these grown areas define the active areas of the substrate upon which electrical structures such as transistors can be formed. While the dielectric box provides isolation, further isolation can be provided by placing a contact to the polysilicon within the box and by providing a bias voltage to the polysilicon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, Shawn D. Lyonsmith, Regan S. Tsui
  • Patent number: 6649467
    Abstract: A dynamic random access memory (DRAM) includes a plurality of memory cells aligned with one another along a pair of wordlines with each wordline being connected to access alternate ones of the memory cells. The DRAM memory cells are formed by transistor stacks that are aligned along and interconnected by wordlines extending between and included within the transistor stacks. By forming the wordlines as a part of the transistor stacks, the wordlines are narrow ribbons of conductive material. During formation of the transistor stacks, the wordlines are connected so that a first wordline controls access transistors of every other one of the memory cells and a second wordline controls the access transistors of the remaining memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, James E. Green
  • Publication number: 20030201486
    Abstract: A high dielectric constant memory cell capacitor and method for producing the same, wherein the memory cell capacitor utilizes relatively large surface area conductive structures of thin spacer width pillars or having edges without sharp corners that lead to electric field breakdown of the high dielectric constant material. The combination of high dielectric constant material in a memory cell along with a relatively large surface area conductive structure is achieved through the use of a buffer material as caps on the thin edge surfaces of the relatively large surface area conductive structures to dampen or eliminate the intense electric field which would be generated at the corners of the structures during the operation of the memory cell capacitor had the caps not been present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Publication date: October 30, 2003
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6589838
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing method of forming a capacitor construction includes, a) providing a pair of electrically conductive lines having respective electrically insulated outermost surfaces; b) providing a pair of sidewall spacers laterally outward of each of the pair of conductive lines; c) etching material over the pair of conductive lines between the respective pairs of sidewall spacers selectively relative to the sidewall spacers to form respective recesses over the pair of conductive lines relative to the sidewall spacers, the etching leaving the outermost conductive line surfaces electrically insulated; d) providing a node to which electrical connection to a capacitor is to be made between the pair of conductive lines, one sidewall spacer of each pair of sidewall spacers being closer to the node than the other sidewall spacer of each pair; e) providing an electrically conductive first capacitor plate layer over the node, the one sidewall spacers, and within the respective recesses; and f) providing a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Green, Darwin Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6566702
    Abstract: A high dielectric constant memory cell capacitor and method for producing the same, wherein the memory cell capacitor utilizes relatively large surface area conductive structures of thin spacer width pillars or having edges without sharp corners that lead to electric field breakdown of the high dielectric constant material. The combination of high dielectric constant material in a memory cell along with a relatively large surface area conductive structure is achieved through the use of a buffer material as caps on the thin edge surfaces of the relatively large surface area conductive structures to dampen or eliminate the intense electric field which would be generated at the corners of the structures during the operation of the memory cell capacitor had the caps not been present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6566206
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes a first substrate portion having a surface and a first active region disposed in the first substrate portion. An insulator region is disposed on the first substrate portion outside of the first active region and extends out from the surface. A second substrate portion is disposed on the insulator region, and a second active region is disposed in the second substrate portion. Thus, by disposing a portion of the substrate on the isolation region, the usable substrate area is dramatically increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt
  • Patent number: 6551878
    Abstract: A method for making reduced-size FLASH EEPROM memory circuits, and to the resulting memory circuit. An FET integrated circuit having two different gate oxide thicknesses deposited at a single step, where a portion of the thickness of the thicker oxide is formed, that oxide is removed from the area of the chip to have the thinner oxide, then the rest of the thicker oxide is grown during the time that the thinner oxide is grown on the area of the chip to have the thinner oxide. Layers for the floating gate stacks are deposited. Trenches are etched in a first, and then a second perpendicular direction, and the perpendicular sides of the stacks are covered with vertical-plane nitride layers in two separate operations. Tungsten word lines and bit contacts are deposited. Aluminum-copper lines are deposited on the bit lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, James E. Green
  • Publication number: 20020182777
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of semiconductor integrated circuits and, in particular, to capacitor arrays formed over the bit line of an integrated circuit substrate. The present invention provides a method for forming stacked capacitors, in which a plurality of patterned capacitor outlines, or walls, are formed over the bit line of a semiconductor device. In one aspect of the invention, spacers are formed on the patterned capacitor outlines and become part of the cell poly after being covered with cell nitride. In another aspect, the spacers are formed of a material capable of being etched back, such as titanium nitride. In another aspect, a metal layer is patterned and annealed to a polysilicon layer to form a mask for a capacitor array, and subsequently etched to form the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2002
    Publication date: December 5, 2002
    Inventor: Darwin A. Clampitt