Patents by Inventor Garry A. Mercaldi

Garry A. Mercaldi 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: 7101756
    Abstract: Structures and methods for making a semiconductor structure are discussed. The semiconductor structure includes a rough surface having protrusions formed from an undoped silicon film. If the semiconductor structure is a capacitor, the protrusions help to increase the capacitance of the capacitor. The semiconductor structure also includes a relatively smooth surface abutting the rough surface, wherein the relatively smooth surface is formed from a polycrystalline material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randhir P. S. Thakur, Garry A. Mercaldi, Michael Nuttall, Shenlin Chen, Er-Xuan Ping
  • Publication number: 20060175673
    Abstract: Systems and devices are disclosed utilizing a silicon-containing barrier layer. A semiconductor device is disclosed and includes a substrate, a gate oxide, a silicon-containing barrier layer and a gate electrode. The gate oxide is formed over the substrate. The silicon-containing barrier layer is formed over the gate oxide by causing silicon atoms of a precursor layer react with a reactive agent. The gate electrode is formed over the silicon-containing barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventors: Don Powell, Garry Mercaldi, Ronald Weimer
  • Patent number: 7087490
    Abstract: A dielectric insulating composite for insulating a floating gate from a control gate in a non-volatile memory is described. A material, such as an undoped polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or amorphous polysilicon or a silicon rich nitride, is inserted in the gate structure. The oxide film that results from the oxidation of these films is relatively free from impurities. As a result, charge leakage between the floating gate and control gate is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Garry A. Mercaldi
  • Patent number: 7034353
    Abstract: Structures and methods for making a semiconductor structure are discussed. The semiconductor structure includes a rough surface having protrusions formed from an undoped silicon film. If the semiconductor structure is a capacitor, the protrusions help to increase the capacitance of the capacitor. The semiconductor structure also includes a relatively smooth surface abutting the rough surface, wherein the relatively smooth surface is formed from a polycrystalline material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Randhir P. S. Thakur, Garry A. Mercaldi, Michael Nuttall, Shenlin Chen, Er-Xuan Ping
  • Patent number: 7015529
    Abstract: Container structures for use in integrated circuits and methods of their manufacture without the use of mechanical planarization such as chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP), thus eliminating CMP-induced defects and variations. The methods utilize localized masking of holes for protection of the inside of the holes during non-mechanical removal of exposed surface layers. The localized masking is accomplished through differential exposure of a resist layer to electromagnetic or thermal energy. The container structures are adapted for use in memory cells and apparatus incorporating such memory cells, as well as other integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Yates, Garry A. Mercaldi
  • Patent number: 7008845
    Abstract: A dielectric insulating composite for insulating a floating gate from a control gate in a non-volatile memory is described. A material, such as an undoped polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or amorphous polysilicon or a silicon rich nitride, is inserted in the gate structure. The oxide film that results from the oxidation of these films is relatively free from impurities. As a result, charge leakage between the floating gate and control gate is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Garry A. Mercaldi
  • Patent number: 6987073
    Abstract: A deposition method includes forming a nucleation layer over a substrate, forming a layer of a first substance at least one monolayer thick chemisorbed on the nucleation layer, and forming a layer of a second substance at least one monolayer thick chemisorbed on the first substance. The chemisorption product of the first and second substance may include silicon and nitrogen. The nucleation layer may comprise silicon nitride. Further, a deposition method may include forming a first part of a nucleation layer on a first surface of a substrate and forming a second part of a nucleation layer on a second surface of the substrate. A deposition layer may be formed on the first and second parts of the nucleation layer substantially non-selectively on the first part of the nucleation layer compared to the second part. The first surface may be a surface of a borophosphosilicate glass layer. The second surface may be a surface of a rugged polysilicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Garry A. Mercaldi
  • Publication number: 20060006448
    Abstract: Container structures for use in integrated circuits and methods of their manufacture without the use of mechanical planarization such as chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP), thus eliminating CMP-induced defects and variations. The methods utilize localized masking of holes for protection of the inside of the holes during non-mechanical removal of exposed surface layers. The localized masking is accomplished through differential exposure of a resist layer to electromagnetic or thermal energy. The container structures are adapted for use in memory cells and apparatus incorporating such memory cells, as well as other integrated circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Donald Yates, Garry Mercaldi
  • Publication number: 20060000414
    Abstract: Processing equipment for forming films exhibiting at least one substantially uniform property on an active surface of a semiconductor substrate includes a component for continuously varying a reaction chamber temperature. The temperature variation component may operate under control of a feedback control system or a temperature regulator, which may be associated with one or more temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 5, 2006
    Inventors: Garry Mercaldi, Don Powell
  • Patent number: 6982894
    Abstract: A structure and method for forming a magnetic memory having a number N of levels of magnetic memory cells by forming a plurality of levels of magnetic memory cells, each level including at least one magnetic memory core structure having first and second surfaces, forming a first access conductor connecting to the first surface, forming a second access conductor connecting to the second surface, wherein N+1 access conductors are formed per number N of levels of magnetic memory cells. The structure comprises a plurality of levels of magnetic memory cells, each level including at least one magnetic memory having a number N of levels of magnetic memory cells, including a magnetic memory core structure having first and second surfaces, the first and second surfaces each connecting to an individual access conductor, wherein N+1 access conductors are employed per number N of levels of magnetic memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Garry Mercaldi
  • Publication number: 20050275044
    Abstract: Systems and devices are disclosed utilizing a silicon-containing barrier layer. A semiconductor device is disclosed and includes a substrate, a gate oxide, a silicon-containing barrier layer and a gate electrode. The gate oxide is formed over the substrate. The silicon-containing barrier layer is formed over the gate oxide by causing silicon atoms of a precursor layer react with a reactive agent. The gate electrode is formed over the silicon-containing barrier layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Publication date: December 15, 2005
    Inventors: Don Powell, Garry Mercaldi, Ronald Weimer
  • Publication number: 20050136561
    Abstract: A process for forming a thin layer exhibiting a substantially uniform property on an active surface of a semiconductor substrate includes varying the temperature within a reaction chamber while a layer of a material is formed upon the semiconductor substrate. Varying the temperature within the reaction chamber facilitates temperature uniformity across the semiconductor wafer. As a result, a layer forming reaction occurs at a substantially consistent rate over the entire active surface of the semiconductor substrate. The process may also include oscillating the temperature within the reaction chamber while a layer of a material is being formed upon a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Inventors: Garry Mercaldi, Don Powell
  • Publication number: 20050026370
    Abstract: A dielectric insulating composite for insulating a floating gate from a control gate in a non-volatile memory is described. A material, such as an undoped polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or amorphous polysilicon or a silicon rich nitride, is inserted in the gate structure. The oxide film that results from the oxidation of these films is relatively free from impurities. As a result, charge leakage between the floating gate and control gate is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Publication date: February 3, 2005
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Garry Mercaldi
  • Publication number: 20050017323
    Abstract: An ultra thin dielectric film or dielectric layer on a semiconductor device is disclosed. In one embodiment, an oxide layer is formed over a substrate. A silicon-containing material is deposited over the oxide layer. The deposited material and oxide layer are processed in a plasma to form the dielectric layer or ultra thin dielectric film. The silicon-containing dielectric layer can allow for improved or smaller semiconductor devices. The silicon containing dielectric layer can be fabricated at low temperatures. Improved or smaller semiconductor devices may be accomplished by reducing leakage, increasing the dielectric constant or fabricating at lower temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventors: Vishnu Agarwal, Garry Mercaldi
  • Patent number: 6833084
    Abstract: The present invention provides an etching composition which includes a polyhydric alcohol in combination with two inorganic acids. Preferably the etching composition of the present invention is a mixture of a glycol, nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid, with propylene glycol being preferred. The etching composition of the present invention achieves a selectivity of greater than 70:1, doped material to undoped material. The present invention provides an etching formulation which has increased selectivity of doped polysilicon to undoped polysilicon and provides an efficient integrated circuit fabrication process without requiring time consuming and costly processing modifications to the etching apparatus or production apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Garry A. Mercaldi, Donald L. Yates
  • Publication number: 20040209426
    Abstract: A dielectric insulating composite for insulating a floating gate from a control gate in a non-volatile memory is described. A material, such as an undoped polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or amorphous polysilicon or a silicon rich nitride, is inserted in the gate structure. The oxide film that results from the oxidation of these films is relatively free from impurities. As a result, charge leakage between the floating gate and control gate is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Garry A. Mercaldi
  • Patent number: 6803280
    Abstract: A dielectric insulating composite for insulating a floating gate from a control gate in a non-volatile memory is described. A material, such as an undoped polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or amorphous polysilicon or a silicon rich nitride, is inserted in the gate structure. The oxide film that results from the oxidation of these films is relatively free from impurities. As a result, charge leakage between the floating gate and control gate is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Garry A. Mercaldi
  • Publication number: 20040191981
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming an MRAM cell which minimizes the occurrence of electrical shorts during fabrication. A first conductor is provided in a trench in an insulating layer and an upper surface of the insulating layer and the first conductor is planarized. Then, a first dielectric layer is deposited over the first conductor and insulating layer to a thickness at least greater than the thickness of a desired MRAM cell. The first dielectric layer is then patterned and etched to form an opening over the first conductor for the cell shapes. Then, the magnetic layers comprising the MRAM cell are consecutively formed within the cell shapes and the first dielectric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventors: Donald L. Yates, Garry A. Mercaldi
  • Patent number: 6794704
    Abstract: Lower electrodes of capacitors composed of a texturizing underlayer and a conductive material overlayer are provided. The lower electrodes have an upper roughened surface. In one embodiment, the texturizing layer is composed of porous or relief nanostructures comprising a polymeric material, for example, silicon oxycarbide. In another embodiment, the texturizing underlayer is in the form of surface dislocations composed of annealed first and second conductive metal layers, and the conductive metal overlayer is agglomerated onto the surface dislocations as nanostructures in the form of island clusters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Yates, Garry A. Mercaldi, James J. Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6791148
    Abstract: A dielectric insulating composite for insulating a floating gate from a control gate in a non-volatile memory is described. A material, such as an undoped polysilicon, amorphous silicon, or amorphous polysilicon or a silicon rich nitride, is inserted in the gate structure. The oxide film that results from the oxidation of these films is relatively free from impurities. As a result, charge leakage between the floating gate and control gate is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Nuttall, Garry A. Mercaldi