Patents by Inventor H. Montgomery Manning

H. Montgomery Manning 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: 20100270641
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor fuse arrangements containing an electrically conductive plate over and in electrical contact with a plurality of electrically conductive links. Each of the links contacts the electrically conductive plate as a separate region relative to the other links, and the region where a link makes contact to the electrically conductive plate is a fuse. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor fuse arrangements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20100261331
    Abstract: The invention includes methods and integrated circuitry. Pillars project outwardly from openings in a first material over individual capacitor storage node locations. Insulative material is deposited over the first material laterally about sidewalls of the projecting pillars, and is anisotropically etched effective to expose underlying first material and leave electrically insulative material received laterally about the sidewalls of the projecting pillars. Openings are formed within a second material to the pillars. The pillars are etched from the substrate through the openings in the second material, and individual capacitor electrodes are formed within the openings in electrical connection with the storage node locations. The individual capacitor electrodes have the anisotropically etched insulative material received laterally about their outer sidewalls. The individual capacitor electrodes are incorporated into a plurality of capacitors. Other implementations and aspects are contemplated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20100233875
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes various method of contact embodiments. One such method embodiment includes creating a trench in an insulator stack material of a particular thickness and having a portion of the trench positioned between two of a number of gates. This method includes depositing a filler material in the trench and etching the filler material to a particular depth that is less than the particular thickness of the insulator stack material. This method also includes depositing a spacer material to at least one side surface of the trench to the particular depth of the filler material and depositing a conductive material into the trench over the filler material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James Mathew, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7786522
    Abstract: A memory cell, device, and system include a memory cell having a shared digitline, a storage capacitor, and a plurality of access transistors configured to selectively electrically couple the storage capacitor with the shared digitline. The digitline couples with adjacent memory cells and the plurality of access transistor selects which adjacent memory cell is coupled to the shared digitline. A method of forming the memory cell includes forming a buried digitline in the substrate and a vertical pillar in the substrate immediately adjacent to the buried digitline. A dual gate transistor is formed on the vertical pillar with a first end electrically coupled to the buried digitline and a second end coupled to a storage capacitor formed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Montgomery Manning, David H. Wells
  • Patent number: 7781818
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor constructions, and also includes methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive storage node material within openings in an insulative material to form conductive containers. A retaining structure lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the containers, and subsequently the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the containers. The retaining structure can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the container structures. The electrically conductive containers correspond to first capacitor electrodes. After the outer sidewalls of the containers are exposed, dielectric material is formed within the containers and along the exposed outer sidewalls. Subsequently, a second capacitor electrode is formed over the dielectric material. The first and second capacitor electrodes, together with the dielectric material, form a plurality of capacitor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Montgomery Manning, Thomas M. Graettinger
  • Patent number: 7776715
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a memory cell comprises forming a plurality of doped semiconductor layers on a carrier substrate. The method further comprises forming a plurality of digit lines separated by an insulating material. The digit lines are arrayed over the doped semiconductor layers. The method further comprises etching a plurality of trenches into the doped semiconductor layers. The method further comprises depositing an insulating material into the plurality of trenches to form a plurality of electrically isolated transistor pillars. The method further comprises bonding at least a portion of the structure formed on the carrier substrate to a host substrate. The method further comprises separating the carrier substrate from the host substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7772680
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor fuse arrangements containing an electrically conductive plate over and in electrical contact with a plurality of electrically conductive links. Each of the links contacts the electrically conductive plate as a separate region relative to the other links, and the region where a link makes contact to the electrically conductive plate is a fuse. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor fuse arrangements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7767525
    Abstract: The invention includes methods in which an angled implant is utilized to self-align a source/drain region implant with the top edge of a gateline of a vertical transistor structure. The invention also includes methods in which an angled implant is utilized to implant dopant beneath the gateline of a vertical transistor structure. Vertical transistor structures formed in accordance with methodology of the present invention can be incorporated into various types of integrated circuitry, including, for example, DRAM arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Montgomery Manning, Kunal R. Parekh, Cem Basceri, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7736987
    Abstract: The invention includes semiconductor constructions, and also includes methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive storage node material within openings in an insulative material to form conductive containers. A retaining structure lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the containers, and subsequently the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the containers. The retaining structure can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the container structures. The electrically conductive containers correspond to first capacitor electrodes. After the outer sidewalls of the containers are exposed, dielectric material is formed within the containers and along the exposed outer sidewalls. Subsequently, a second capacitor electrode is formed over the dielectric material. The first and second capacitor electrodes, together with the dielectric material, form a plurality of capacitor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Montgomery Manning, Thomas M. Graettinger
  • Patent number: 7737022
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes various method, circuit, device, and system embodiments. One such method embodiment includes creating a trench in an insulator stack material having a portion of the trench positioned between two of a number of gates and depositing a spacer material to at least one side surface of the trench. This method also includes depositing a conductive material into the trench and depositing a cap material into the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Mathew, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20100112489
    Abstract: Pitch multiplied and non-pitch multiplied features of an integrated circuit, e.g., features in the array, interface and periphery areas of the integrated circuit, are formed by processing a substrate through a mask. The mask is formed by patterning a photoresist layer which simultaneously defines mask elements corresponding to features in the array, interface and periphery areas of the integrated circuit. The pattern is transferred to an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the patterned amorphous carbon layer. A layer of protective material is deposited and then patterned to expose mask elements in the array region and in selected parts of the interface or periphery areas. Amorphous carbon in the array region or other exposed parts is removed, thereby leaving a pattern including free-standing, pitch multiplied spacers in the array region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Fischer, Stephen Russell, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7687358
    Abstract: This invention includes gated field effect devices, and methods of forming gated field effect devices. In one implementation, a gated field effect device includes a pair of source/drain regions having a channel region therebetween. A gate is received proximate the channel region between the source/drain regions. The gate has a gate width between the source/drain regions. A gate dielectric is received intermediate the channel region and the gate. The gate dielectric has at least two different regions along the width of the gate. The different regions are characterized by different materials which are effective to define the two different regions to have different dielectric constants k. Other aspects and implementations are contemplated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem Basceri, H. Montgomery Manning, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Kunal R. Parekh
  • Patent number: 7683456
    Abstract: In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes an array of memory cells. Individual memory cells of the array include a capacitor having first and second electrodes, a dielectric layer disposed between the first and second electrodes. Select individual capacitors are energized so as to blow the dielectric layer to establish a connection between the first and second electrodes such that, after blowing the dielectric layer, the second electrode is coupled to a cell plate generator establishing a bias connection therebetween. Cell plate bias connection methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20100065941
    Abstract: An intermediate semiconductor structure that comprises a substrate and at least one undercut structure formed in the substrate is disclosed. The undercut feature may include a vertical opening having a lateral cavity therein, the vertical opening extending below the lateral cavity. The lateral cavity may include faceted sidewalls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7666578
    Abstract: Pitch multiplied and non-pitch multiplied features of an integrated circuit, e.g., features in the array, interface and periphery areas of the integrated circuit, are formed by processing a substrate through a mask. The mask is formed by patterning a photoresist layer which simultaneously defines mask elements corresponding to features in the array, interface and periphery areas of the integrated circuit. The pattern is transferred to an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall spacers are formed on the sidewalls of the patterned amorphous carbon layer. A layer of protective material is deposited and then patterned to expose mask elements in the array region and in selected parts of the interface or periphery areas. Amorphous carbon in the array region or other exposed parts is removed, thereby leaving a pattern including free-standing, pitch multiplied spacers in the array region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Fischer, Stephen Russell, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7659211
    Abstract: The present technique relates to a method and apparatus to provide a dielectric etch stop layer that prevents shorts for a buried digit layer as an interconnect. In a memory device, such as DRAM or SRAM, various layers are deposited to form structures, such as PMOS gates, NMOS gates, memory cells, P+ active areas, and N+ active areas. These structures are fabricated through the use of multiple masking processes, which may cause shorts when a buried digit layer is deposited if the masking processes are misaligned. Accordingly, a dielectric etch stop layer, such as aluminum oxide Al2O3 or silicon carbide SiC, may be utilized in the array to prevent shorts between the wordlines, active areas, and the buried digit layer when the contacts are misaligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7625776
    Abstract: A method of forming at least one undercut structure in a semiconductor substrate. The method comprises providing a semiconductor substrate, forming at least one doped region in the semiconductor substrate, and removing the at least one doped region to form at least one undercut structure in the semiconductor substrate. The at least one undercut structure may include at least one substantially vertical shelf, at least one substantially horizontal shelf, and at least one faceted surface. The at least one doped region may be formed by implanting an impurity in the semiconductor substrate, which is, optionally, annealed. The at least one doped region may be removed selective to the undoped portion of the semiconductor substrate by at least one of wet etching or dry etching. An intermediate semiconductor structure that comprises a single crystalline silicon substrate and at least one undercut structure formed in the single crystalline silicon substrate is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David H. Wells, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20090286377
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions and methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive material within openings in an insulative material to form capacitor electrode structures. A lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the electrode structures, a protective cap is formed over the lattice, and subsequently some of the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the electrode structures. The lattice can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the electrode structures, and the protective cap can protect covered portions of the insulative material from the etch. After the outer sidewalls of the electrode structures are exposed, the protective cap is removed. The electrode structures are then incorporated into capacitor constructions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning
  • Patent number: 7613024
    Abstract: A DRAM array includes for each column a pair of complimentary digit lines that are coupled to a sense amplifier. Each of the global digit lines is selectively coupled to a plurality of local digit lines by respective coupling circuits. The length of the local digit lines is substantially shorter than the length of the global digit lines. As a result, the local digit lines have substantially less capacitance so that a voltage stored by a memory cell capacitor can be more easily transferred to the local digit line. The coupling circuits provide current amplification so that the voltage on the local digit lines can be more easily transferred to the global digit lines. A write back circuit is coupled to the local digit line to restore the voltage of the memory cell capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: H. Montgomery Manning, Howard Kirsch
  • Patent number: 7585741
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions and methods of forming pluralities of capacitor devices. An exemplary method of the invention includes forming conductive material within openings in an insulative material to form capacitor electrode structures. A lattice is formed in physical contact with at least some of the electrode structures, a protective cap is formed over the lattice, and subsequently some of the insulative material is removed to expose outer surfaces of the electrode structures. The lattice can alleviate toppling or other loss of structural integrity of the electrode structures, and the protective cap can protect covered portions of the insulative material from the etch. After the outer sidewalls of the electrode structures are exposed, the protective cap is removed. The electrode structures are then incorporated into capacitor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Montgomery Manning