Patents by Inventor Harsh Narendrakumar Jain

Harsh Narendrakumar Jain 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: 11961801
    Abstract: Integrated circuitry comprises two three-dimensional (3D) array regions individually comprising tiers of electronic components. A stair-step region is between the two 3D-array regions. First stair-step structures alternate with second stair-step structures along a first direction within the stair-step region. The first stair-step structures individually comprise two opposing first flights of stairs in a first vertical cross-section along the first direction. The stairs in the first flights each have multiple different-depth treads in a second vertical cross-section that is along a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. The second stair-step structures individually comprise two opposing second flights of stairs in the first vertical cross-section. The stairs in the second flights each have only a single one tread along the second direction. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, Indra V. Chary, David H. Wells, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Umberto Maria Meotto, Paolo Tessariol
  • Publication number: 20240074194
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses. One of the apparatuses includes tiers located one over another; a first staircase structure formed in the tiers; a second staircase structure formed in the tiers adjacent the first staircase structure, respective portions of conductive materials in the tiers forming a part of the first and second staircase structure and a part of respective control gates associated with memory cells; a first trench structure formed in the tiers adjacent the first staircase structure and the second staircase structure, the first trench structure including length in a direction from the first staircase structure to the second staircase structure; and a second trench structure formed in the tiers adjacent the first trench structure, the second trench structure including a length in the direction from the first staircase structure to the second staircase structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Shruthi Kumara Vadivel, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Richard T. Housley, Zhenxing Han, Scott L. Light, Qinglin Zeng, Hsiao-Kuan Yuan, Jordan Chess, Xiaosong Zhang
  • Publication number: 20240071930
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a first deck structure comprising alternating conductive structures and insulating structures arranged in tiers, each of the tiers individually comprising one of the conductive structures and one of the insulating structures, a second deck structure vertically overlying the first deck structure and comprising additional tiers of the conductive structures and insulative structures, a staircase structure within the first deck structure and having steps comprising edges of the tiers, a dielectric material covering the steps of the staircase structure and extending through the first deck structure, and a liner material interposed between the steps of the staircase structure and terminating at an interdeck region between the first deck structure and the second deck structure. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Harsh Narendrakumar Jain
  • Publication number: 20240029795
    Abstract: Memory circuitry comprising strings of memory cells comprises channel-material strings of memory cells extending through insulative tiers and conductive tiers in a memory-array region. The insulative and conductive tiers extend from the memory-array region into a stair-step region. A plurality of stair-step structures is in the stair-step region. The stair-step structures individually comprise two opposing flights of stairs. The stair-step structures comprise an SGD stair-step structure and non-SGD stair-step structures. At least one of the non-SGD stair-step structures has less total stairs than are in individual of multiple others of the non-SGD stair-step structures. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anna Maria Conti, Lifang Xu, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain
  • Publication number: 20240029794
    Abstract: A method used in forming memory circuitry comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The stack extends from a memory-array region into a stair-step region. The first tiers are conductive and the second tiers are insulative at least in a finished-circuitry construction. A first layer of imageable resist is exposed to actinic radiation and developed to form a first opening there-through in the stair-step region. The developed first layer is used in a plurality of alternating etching and lateral-trimming steps that widens the first opening and forms two opposing flights of stairs in the stack in the stair-step region. A second layer of imageable resist is formed directly above the two opposing flights of stairs. The second layer is exposed to actinic radiation and developed to form a second opening there-through. The second opening exposes all of the stairs of one of the two opposing flights.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, Anna Maria Conti, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, H. Montgomery Manning
  • Publication number: 20240021521
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for staircase structures for accessing three-dimensional (3D) memory arrays are described. A memory system may include an access region (e.g., a staircase region) that includes circuitry for accessing memory cells at respective levels of memory cells. The access region may include a channel through which a conductive pillar may couple a word line at a level of memory cells with decoder circuitry. During manufacture of the memory system, a channel material may be formed in the channel and etched to form a corner portion in the channel. During a partitioning of the channel, a nitride material over the corner portion may be etched and some of the corner portion may remain in the channel, which may prevent formation of a trench that may cause the conductive pillar to be uncoupled from the word line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Martin Jared Barclay, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Yiping Wang
  • Patent number: 11856763
    Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device including a first stack structure comprising alternating levels of insulative structures and other insulative structures, forming strings of memory cells through the first stack structure, forming a second stack structure over the first stack structure, based at least partially on observed amount of pillar bending within the first stack structure, forming a first tailored reticle specific to the observed amount of pillar bending, utilizing the first tailored reticle to form openings extending through the second stack structure and over some of the strings of memory cells, wherein centers of the openings over the strings of memory cells are at least substantially aligned with the centers of uppermost surfaces of the strings of memory cells in a direction of the observed pillar bending, and forming upper pillars extending through the second stack structure and over some of the strings of memory cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, Sidhartha Gupta, Kar Wui Thong, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain
  • Publication number: 20230395510
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices include a stack with a vertically alternating sequence of insulative and conductive structures arranged in tiers. A staircased stadium within the stack comprises steps at different tier elevations of a group of the tiers. Treads of the steps are each provided by an upper surface area of one of the conductive structures within the group of the tiers and by an upper surface area of a metal oxide region extending through the one of the conductive structures. A pair of conductive contact structures extends to one of the steps. A first conductive contact structure of the pair terminates at the tread of the step, within the area of the conductive structure. A second conductive contact structure of the pair extends through the tread of the step, within the upper surface area of the metal oxide region. Related fabrication methods and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Mithun Kumar Ramasahayam, Jordan D. Greenlee, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Jiewei Chen, Indra V. Chary
  • Publication number: 20230395513
    Abstract: A method used in forming memory circuitry comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers, with the stack extending from a memory-array region into a stair-step region. The stair-step region comprises a flight of stairs in a first vertical cross-section along a first direction. Masking material is formed directly above the flight of stairs. A species is ion implanted into the masking material to form different-composition first and second regions that are directly above individual of the stairs along a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. One of the first and the second regions is removed selectively relative to the other of the first and the second regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Yiping Wang, Jordan Chess, Collin Howder
  • Patent number: 11830815
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a first deck structure comprising alternating conductive structures and insulating structures arranged in tiers, each of the tiers individually comprising one of the conductive structures and one of the insulating structures, a second deck structure vertically overlying the first deck structure and comprising additional tiers of the conductive structures and insulative structures, a staircase structure within the first deck structure and having steps comprising edges of the tiers, a dielectric material covering the steps of the staircase structure and extending through the first deck structure, and a liner material interposed between the steps of the staircase structure and terminating at an interdeck region between the first deck structure and the second deck structure. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Harsh Narendrakumar Jain
  • Publication number: 20230326793
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Kar Wui Thong, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11785775
    Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device includes forming a microelectronic device structure. The microelectronic device structure includes a stack structure having an alternating sequence of conductive structures and insulative structures, an upper stadium structure, a lower stadium structure, and a crest region defined between a first stair step structure of the upper stadium structure and a second stair step structure of the lower stadium structure. The stack structure further includes pillar structures extending through the stack structure and dielectric structures interposed between neighboring pillar structures within the upper stadium structure. The method further includes forming a trench in the crest region of the stack structure between two dielectric structures of the dielectric structures on opposing sides of another dielectric structure and filling the trench with a dielectric material. The trench partially overlaps with the dielectric structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, Shuangqiang Luo, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Nancy M. Lomeli, Christopher J. Larsen
  • Publication number: 20230317604
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices include a stack structure having a vertically alternating sequence of insulative structures and conductive structures arranged in tiers. A series of stadiums, within the stack structure, includes stadiums of differing numbers of staircase sets, such as a stadium having multiple parallel sets of staircases and an additional stadium having a single set of staircases. Each of the staircases comprises steps, at ends of the conductive structures, with a same multi-tier riser height. In methods of fabrication, a same initial stadium opening may be concurrently formed for each of the stadiums—regardless of whether the stadium is to include the single set or the multiple parallel sets of staircases—with the steps of the same multi-tier riser height. Electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Indra V. Chary, Umberto Maria Meotto, Paolo Tessariol
  • Publication number: 20230317601
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices include a tiered stack comprising a vertically alternating sequence of insulative structures and conductive structures arranged in tiers. A stadium within the tiered stack includes a staircase with steps at ends of some of the tiers. The steps each have a tread provided by an upper surface portion of one of the conductive structures. Conductive contact structures extend to one of the steps and include a first conductive contact structure terminating at the tread of the step and a second conductive contact structure extending through the tread of the step. Related fabrication methods and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Scott L. Light, Shruthi Kumara Vadivel, Shuangqiang Luo
  • Patent number: 11700727
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers. The stack structure comprises a first block structure comprising stair step structures spaced from each other by crest regions, the stair step structures each comprising steps defined at horizontal edges of the tiers of the conductive structures and the insulative structures, and a second block structure horizontally neighboring the first block structure and comprising additional stair step structures spaced from one another by additional crest regions, the additional stair step structures horizontally offset from the stair step structures of the first block structure, and a slot structure extending though the stack structure and interposed between the first block structure and the second block structure. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shruthi Kumara Vadivel, Yi Hu, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain
  • Publication number: 20230197627
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising a multideck structure including a base stack of materials and one or more stacks of materials on the base stack of materials, at least one high aspect ratio feature in an array region in the base stack of materials and in the one or more stacks of materials, and overlay marks including an optical contrast material in or on only an upper portion of the base stack of materials in an overlay mark region of the electronic device is disclosed. The overlay mark region is laterally adjacent to the array region and the overlay marks are adjacent to at least one additional high aspect ratio feature in the base stack of materials. Additional electronic devices and memory devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Rohit Kothari, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, John D. Hopkins, Xiaosong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11682581
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kar Wui Thong, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11641741
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices include a stack structure with a vertically alternating sequence of insulative structures and conductive structures arranged in tiers. A series of slit structures extends through the stack structure and divides the stack structure into a series of blocks. In a progressed portion of the series of blocks, each block comprises an array of pillars extending through the stack structure of the block. Also, each block—in the progressed portion—has a different block width than a block width of a neighboring block of the progressed portion of the series of blocks. At least one pillar, of the pillars of the array of pillars in the progressed portion, exhibits bending. Related methods and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaiming Luo, Sarfraz Qureshi, Md Zakir Ullah, Jessica Jing Wen Low, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, Kok Siak Tang, Indra V. Chary, Matthew J. King
  • Patent number: 11637178
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers, a staircase structure within the stack structure having steps comprising horizontal edges of the tiers, a first insulative material vertically overlying the staircase structure, conductive contact structures comprising a conductive material extending through the first insulative material and in contact with the steps of the staircase structure, and a second insulative material extending in a first horizontal direction between horizontally neighboring conductive contact structures and exhibiting one or more different properties than the first insulative material. Related microelectronic devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuangqiang Luo, Indra V. Chary, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain
  • Patent number: 11581264
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising at least one high aspect ratio feature in a base stack of materials, overlay marks in or on only an upper portion of the base stack of materials, and an additional stack of materials adjacent the base stack of materials, the additional stack of materials comprising the at least one high aspect ratio feature. Additional electronic devices and memory devices are disclosed, as are methods of forming high aspect ratio features in an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohit Kothari, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, John D. Hopkins, Xiaosong Zhang