Patents by Inventor Fredrick Fishburn

Fredrick Fishburn 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: 20250259895
    Abstract: The present technology includes methods and systems for forming advanced memory structures, and the resulting devices. Methods include forming a dielectric material layer over a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a bottom wall, of one or more features, where the first sidewall is spaced apart from the second sidewall and the bottom wall is disposed between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. Methods include depositing a liner material directly on the dielectric material layer on the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the bottom wall. Methods include removing at least a portion of the liner material from the bottom wall. Methods include selectively depositing a conductive material on a remaining portion of the liner material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2024
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun Chen, Fredrick Fishburn, Raghuveer S. Makala, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan
  • Publication number: 20250246426
    Abstract: A method for forming an oxide layer in a vertical channel structure includes performing a pre-clean process to remove contaminants on exposed surfaces of channel pillars extending in a first direction, performing a silicon layer formation process to form a silicon layer on the exposed surfaces of the channel pillars, and performing a thermal oxidation process to convert the silicon layer to an oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2024
    Publication date: July 31, 2025
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Hoi-Sung CHUNG, Fredrick FISHBURN, Raghuveer Satya MAKALA, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20250234522
    Abstract: A memory cell array includes a bitline encapsulated in a blocking layer within a spacer layer, the bitline extending in a first direction, and a plurality of memory cells aligned in the first direction, each of the plurality of memory cells including a cell transistor having a source electrically connected to the bitline, a drain, a word line, and a channel electrically connected to the source and the drain, and a cell capacitor having a top electrode that is electrically connected to the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2024
    Publication date: July 17, 2025
    Inventors: Jongbeom SEO, Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN, Raghuveer Satya MAKALA
  • Publication number: 20250227915
    Abstract: The present technology includes vertical cell dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) arrays with improved floating body effect. The arrays include one or more bit lines arranged in a first horizontal direction and one or more word lines arranged in a second horizontal direction. The arrays include one or more channels extending in a vertical direction generally orthogonal to the first direction and the second horizontal direction, such that the bit lines intersect with a source/drain region of the plurality of channels, and the word lines intersect with gate regions of the plurality of channels. Arrays include where the source/drain region includes a low bandgap material, where the low bandgap material exhibits a bandgap less than a bandgap of a channel material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2024
    Publication date: July 10, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashish PAL, Leitao LIU, El Mehdi BAZIZI, Fredrick FISHBURN, Zhijun CHEN, Raghuveer S. MAKALA, Sony VARGHESE, Tong LIU, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN, Lequn LIU
  • Publication number: 20250185230
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory devices are described. The method comprises forming an oxide layer on a plurality of first layers to fill a plurality of openings in a process cycle including a first sub-cycle and a second sub-cycle. The first sub-cycle includes exposing the film stack to a silicon precursor and ammonia to form a nitride layer on each of the plurality of first layers. The second sub-cycle includes exposing the nitride layer to a plasma to form the oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2024
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredrick Fishburn, Zhijun Chen, Balasubramanian Pranatharthiharan, Raghuveer Satya Makala, Lequn Liu
  • Publication number: 20250163573
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods and semiconductor structures are provided with molybdenum-containing features. Methods include etching a substrate to form one or more shallow trench isolations and a plurality of vertically extending channels. Methods include forming one or more molybdenum-containing layers within one or more of the shallow trench isolations. Methods include contacting an exposed surface of the one or more molybdenum-containing layers with a nitrogen-containing precursor, where the contacting nitrides the exposed surface of the one or more molybdenum-containing layers, forming a protective layer over the one or more molybdenum-containing layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2024
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Jongbeom SEO, Fredrick FISHBURN, Raghuveer S. MAKALA
  • Patent number: 12284803
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices and to semiconductor fabrication for DRAM devices. Certain embodiments disclosed herein provide an integrated processing system and methods for forming CMOS contact, DRAM array bit line contact (BLC), and storage node structures. The integrated processing system and methods enable deposition of contact and storage node layers with reduced contamination and improved quality, thus reducing leakage current and resistance for the final contact and storage node structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Nicolas Louis Breil, Fredrick Fishburn, Byeong Chan Lee
  • Publication number: 20250126774
    Abstract: Memory devices are provided which have stacked DRAM cells, resulting in an increase in DRAM cell bit-density. In a 3D DRAM with stacked unit cell layers of one or more embodiments, it is necessary to reduce the area of a unit cell in order to increase bit density per unit area for a given number of stacked cells. In one or more embodiments, n wordlines (nWL, n is an integer?2) share a contact pad. The shared nWLs are separated by n bitlines (BLs) to assign every cell independently one WL and one BL.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2024
    Publication date: April 17, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Seok Kang, Sony Varghese, Tong Liu, Fredrick Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20250120065
    Abstract: The present technology includes vertical cell dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) arrays with improve bit line and storage node contact resistivity and self-alignment as well as methods of making such arrays. The arrays include a plurality of bit lines arranged in a first horizontal direction and a plurality of word lines arranged in a second horizontal direction. The arrays include a plurality of channels extending in a vertical direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction and the second horizontal direction, such that the plurality of bit lines intersect with a source/drain region of the plurality of channels, and the plurality of word lines intersect with gate regions of the plurality of channels. In addition, arrays include where a bit line, a storage node contact, or both, are formed from a metallized material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20250120068
    Abstract: The present technology includes vertical cell dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) arrays with improve bit line and storage node contact resistivity and self-alignment as well as methods of making such arrays. The arrays include a plurality of bit lines arranged in a first horizontal direction and a plurality of word lines arranged in a second horizontal direction. The arrays include a plurality of channels extending in a vertical direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction and the second horizontal direction, such that the plurality of bit lines intersect with a source/drain region of the plurality of channels, and the plurality of word lines intersect with gate regions of the plurality of channels. In addition, arrays include where a bit line, a storage node contact, or both, are formed from a metallized material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20250120069
    Abstract: The present technology includes vertical cell dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) arrays with improve bit line and storage node contact resistivity and self-alignment as well as methods of making such arrays. The arrays include a plurality of bit lines arranged in a first horizontal direction and a plurality of word lines arranged in a second horizontal direction. The arrays include a plurality of channels extending in a vertical direction that is generally orthogonal to the first direction and the second horizontal direction, such that the plurality of bit lines intersect with a source/drain region of the plurality of channels, and the plurality of word lines intersect with gate regions of the plurality of channels. In addition, arrays include where a bit line, a storage node contact, or both, are formed from a metallized material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20250107068
    Abstract: The present technology includes vertical cell array transistor (VCAT) with improved gate induced leakage current. The arrays one or more bit lines arranged in a first horizontal direction and one or more word lines arranged in a second horizontal direction. The arrays include one or more channels extending in a vertical direction generally orthogonal to the first direction and the second horizontal direction, such that the bit lines intersect with a source/drain region of the plurality of channels, and the word lines intersect with gate regions of the plurality of channels. Arrays include where at least one word includes a first section adjacent to the source/drain region and a second section adjacent to the gate region, where the second section contains a high work function material and the first section contains a low work function material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tong LIU, Sony VARGHESE, Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20250075321
    Abstract: A method for forming an oxide layer includes forming a protective interlayer oxide on sidewalls of a trench formed on a substrate, forming a silicon nitride layer on the protective interlayer oxide, by a plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PE ALD) process utilizing nitrogen-containing process gas, the silicon nitride layer having a concentration gradient of nitrogen varying from high concentration away from the protective interlayer oxide to low concentration near the protective interlayer oxide, and performing a conversion process to oxidize the formed silicon nitride layer to at least partially convert the formed silicon nitride layer to a silicon oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Fredrick FISHBURN, Hao ZHANG, Zhijun CHEN, Johanes SWENBERG, Christopher S. OLSEN, Hansel LO, Kristopher Mikael KOSKELA, Hoi-Sung CHUNG, Chang Seok KANG, Raghuveer Satya MAKALA
  • Publication number: 20250081432
    Abstract: Vertical cell dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) arrays and methods of forming arrays with improved stability and word line resistivity are provided. The arrays include a plurality of bit lines arranged in a first horizontal direction and a plurality of word lines arranged in a second horizontal direction. The arrays include a plurality of channels extending in a vertical direction generally orthogonal to the first direction and the second horizontal direction, such that the plurality of bit lines intersect with a source/drain region of the plurality of channels. In addition, arrays include a bridge extending between a first channel of the plurality of channels and a second channel of the plurality of channels, where the first channel is spaced apart from the second channel in a row extending in the second horizontal direction. Arrays include a gate formed around at least a portion of the plurality of channels and the bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2024
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN, Tong LIU, Sony VARGHESE, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20250063716
    Abstract: Examples herein relate to three-dimensional (3D) dynamic random access memory (DRAM) and corresponding methods. In an example, a stacked semiconductor structure is provided, where the stacked semiconductor structure includes a plurality of unit stacks formed on a substrate. Each unit stack has a semiconductor layer, a first dielectric layer, a first gate electrode, and a second dielectric layer of a capacitor portion. A lateral recess of the capacitor portion is open to a first opening through the unit stack. The method includes conformally depositing, in the lateral recess, a doped silicon layer on a lateral end of the semiconductor layer, performing a thermal annealing process after forming the doped silicon layer on the second lateral end. The method further includes forming a capacitor where the lateral recess was disposed, the capacitor contacting the doped silicon layer on the second lateral end of the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Zhijun CHEN, Fredrick FISHBURN
  • Publication number: 20250037997
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing thereof. A substrate is provided. One or more groups of layers are formed on top of the substrate. A compensation layer is formed on top of at least one group of layers. At least one silicon layer is formed on top of the compensation layer. At least a portion of one or more layers in the one or more groups of layers is etched. The semiconductor device is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruiying HAO, Thomas John KIRSCHENHEITER, Fredrick FISHBURN, Abhishek DUBE, Raghuveer S. MAKALA, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN
  • Publication number: 20240429048
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing thereof. A substrate is provided. At least one silicon layer is formed on top of the substrate. At least one silicon-germanium layer is formed on top of at least one silicon layer. At least one silicon-germanium layer includes at least one n-type dopant. The semiconductor device having at least one silicon layer and at least one silicon-germanium layer is formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ruiying HAO, Thomas KIRSCHENHEITER, Arvind KUMAR, Mahendra PAKALA, Roya BAGHI, Balasubramanian PRANATHARTHIHARAN, Fredrick FISHBURN
  • Publication number: 20240431093
    Abstract: The present technology is generally directed to vertical dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) cells and arrays, and methods of forming such cells and arrays, that contain a shared word line between two adjacent channels. Cells include a bit line arranged in a first horizontal direction, a first channel, a second channel, and a shared word line arranged in a second horizontal direction between the first channel and the second channel. Cells include where the first channel and the second channel extend in a vertical direction that is orthogonal to the first horizontal direction and the second horizontal direction, such that the bit line intersects with a source/drain region of the first channel and the second channel, and the shared word line intersects with a gate region of both the first channel and the second channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Fredrick Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20240395553
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods and semiconductor structures are provided with improved doping in target regions. Methods include providing a substrate disposed within a semiconductor processing chamber, where one or more undoped target regions are formed on the substrate. Methods include subjecting the one or more undoped target regions to a pre-clean operation, removing at least a portion of any oxide present on the one or more undoped target regions. Methods include contacting the one or more undoped target regions with a gas phase dopant or a radical thereof, doping the one or more target regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun Chen, Fredrick Fishburn, In Soo Jung, Zuoming Zhu
  • Patent number: 12148475
    Abstract: Described is a memory string including at least one select gate for drain (SGD) transistor and at least one memory transistor in a vertical hole extending through a memory stack on a substrate. The memory stack comprises alternating word lines and dielectric material. There is at least one select-gate-for-drain (SGD) transistor in a first vertical hole extending through the memory stack, the select-gate-for-drain (SGD) transistor comprising a first gate material. At least one memory transistor is in a second vertical hole extending through the memory stack, the at least one memory transistor comprising a second gate material different from the first gate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Seok Kang, Tomohiko Kitajima, Gill Yong Lee, Qian Fu, Sung-Kwan Kang, Takehito Koshizawa, Fredrick Fishburn