Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure, a stadium structure within the stack structure, and conductive contact structures. The stack structure comprises a vertically alternating sequence of conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers. Each of the tiers comprises one of the conductive structures and one of the insulative structures. The stadium structure comprises a forward staircase structure having steps comprising edges of the tiers, and a reverse staircase structure opposing the forward staircase structure and having additional steps comprising additional edges of the tiers. The conductive contact structures vertically extend to upper vertical boundaries of at least some of the conductive structures of the stack structure at the steps of the forward staircase structure and the additional steps of the reverse staircase structure, and are each integral and continuous with one of the conductive structures.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a self-supporting fiber optic cable (40) having a messenger section (42) and a core section (44). The messenger section (42) and core section (44) include a jacket (47) that are interconnected by a series of webs (48) spaced by longitudinal gaps. The core section (44) includes a slotted core (45) having at least one slot with at least one optical fiber ribbon (46). Jacket (47) includes a substantially uniform cross sectional thickness. A method of making self-supporting fiber optic cable (40) comprises the steps of drawing the messenger wire (43) and the core (45) through a melt cavity including a molten jacketing material therein. Messenger section (42) and core section (44) are then defined by coating the messenger wire and the core with the molten jacketing material. Webs (48) are formed intermittently between the messenger and core sections (42,44).