Patents by Inventor Jixin Yu

Jixin Yu 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: 20250079294
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, a memory opening vertically extending through the alternating stack, a memory opening fill structure located in memory opening and including a vertical stack of memory elements located at levels of the electrically conductive layers and a vertical semiconductor channel, a layer contact via structure contacting a first electrically conductive layer within a first subset of the electrically conductive layers and vertically extending through a second subset of the electrically conductive layers that overlies the first subset, and a support pillar structure located under a bottom surface of the layer contact via structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2023
    Publication date: March 6, 2025
    Inventors: Jixin YU, Koichi MATSUNO, Ruogu Matthew ZHU, Mark D. KRAMAN, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20240414917
    Abstract: A memory device includes a first alternating stack including first insulating layers and first electrically conductive layers that are interlaced along a vertical direction, where a first stepped cavity located inside the first alternating stack includes a first stepped bottom surface containing horizontally-extending surface segments of the first electrically conductive layers, a memory opening vertically extending through each layer within the first alternating stack, a memory opening fill structure located in the memory opening and including a vertical stack of memory elements, a first insulating spacer contacting sidewalls of the first stepped cavity, and a first electrically conductive strip including a first horizontally-extending bottom strip segment contacting one of the first electrically conductive layers, a first horizontally-extending top strip segment that overlies a topmost layer within the first alternating stack, and a first vertically-extending strip segment connecting the first horizontally-
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Inventors: Mark D. KRAMAN, Ruogu Matthew ZHU, Li-Wei LO, Koichi MATSUNO, Jixin YU, Kazuhiro SHIRAISHI, Takayuki MAEKURA
  • Publication number: 20240386959
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes at least one alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory openings vertically extending through the at least one alternating stack, memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings, and a laterally-extending trench fill structure contacting a first lengthwise sidewall of the at least one alternating stack, and including a first-type dielectric bridge structure having a first volume, a second-type dielectric bridge structure having a second volume greater than the first volume, and a trench dielectric material portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2023
    Publication date: November 21, 2024
    Inventors: Jixin YU, Koichi MATSUNO, Seyyed Ehsan Esfahani RASHIDI, Ehsan ESMAILI, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20240334695
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes laterally spaced apart vertical stacks of electrically conductive layers and insulating layers. A composite dielectric isolation structure provides electrical isolation between neighboring pairs of vertical stacks. The composite dielectric isolation structure includes at least one retro-stepped dielectric material portion, and may further include at least one finned insulating support structure or a vertical stack of dielectric material plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Jixin YU, Koichi MATSUNO, Ruogu Matthew ZHU, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20240290714
    Abstract: A memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory openings vertically extending through the alternating stack, memory opening fill structures located in the memory openings and including a respective memory film and a respective vertical semiconductor channel, contact wells vertically extending through a respective subset of layers of the alternating stack that includes a topmost insulating layer of the insulating layers, dielectric fill structures located in the contact wells, and an array of contact via structures vertically extending through the respective dielectric fill structure in each of the contact wells and contacting a top surface of a respective electrically conductive layer within a subset of the electrically conductive layers, the subset of the electrically conductive layers including a plurality of electrically conductive layers that are vertically spaced apart.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Mark D. KRAMAN, Johann ALSMEIER, James KAI, Koichi MATSUNO, Jixin YU, Ruogu Matthew ZHU, Seyyed Ehsan Esfahani RASHIDI
  • Publication number: 20240250023
    Abstract: A memory device includes at least one alternating stack of respective insulating layers and respective electrically conductive layers and memory stack structures vertically extending through the at least one alternating stack. A layer contact via structure contacts a top surface of one of the electrically conductive layers, and is laterally surrounded by at least one dielectric spacer, which may include a plurality of dielectric spacers, and optionally by a plurality of dielectric support pillar structures. Additionally or alternatively, the layer contact via structure may comprise a convex surface segment that is adjoined to a straight sidewall segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Ruogu Matthew ZHU, Koichi MATSUNO, Seyyed Ehsan Esfahani RASHIDI, Jixin YU, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20240251551
    Abstract: A memory device includes at least one alternating stack of respective insulating layers and respective electrically conductive layers and memory stack structures vertically extending through the at least one alternating stack. A layer contact via structure contacts a top surface of one of the electrically conductive layers, and is laterally surrounded by at least one dielectric spacer, which may include a plurality of dielectric spacers, and optionally by a plurality of dielectric support pillar structures. Additionally or alternatively, the layer contact via structure may comprise a convex surface segment that is adjoined to a straight sidewall segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2023
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Ruogu Matthew ZHU, Koichi MATSUNO, Seyyed Ehsan Esfahani RASHIDI, Jixin YU, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20220352091
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, memory opening fill structures including a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective memory film, and support pillar structures including a respective dummy vertical semiconductor channel, a respective dummy memory film, and a vertical stack of dielectric spacer fins located at levels of the electrically conductive layers and interposed between the electrically conductive layers and the respective dummy memory film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2021
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jixin YU, Johann ALSMEIER, Koichi MATSUNO
  • Patent number: 11380707
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes layer stacks located over a substrate and laterally spaced apart from each other by backside trenches. Each of the layer stacks includes a respective alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers. Memory openings vertically extend through a respective one of the alternating stacks and are filled with a respective memory opening fill structure. Each of the memory opening fill structures includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective vertical stack of memory elements. Each backside trench fill structure includes a respective row of backside trench bridge structures that are more distal from the substrate than a most distal one of the electrically conductive layers is from the substrate. The backside trench bridge structures can provide structural support during a replacement process that forms the electrically conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Koichi Matsuno, Jixin Yu, Johann Alsmeier
  • Publication number: 20220181348
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes layer stacks located over a substrate and laterally spaced apart from each other by backside trenches. Each of the layer stacks includes a respective alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers. Memory openings vertically extend through a respective one of the alternating stacks and are filled with a respective memory opening fill structure. Each of the memory opening fill structures includes a respective vertical semiconductor channel and a respective vertical stack of memory elements. Each backside trench fill structure includes a respective row of backside trench bridge structures that are more distal from the substrate than a most distal one of the electrically conductive layers is from the substrate. The backside trench bridge structures can provide structural support during a replacement process that forms the electrically conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Koichi MATSUNO, Jixin YU, Johann ALSMEIER
  • Publication number: 20210210503
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers, memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack, wherein each of the memory stack structures comprises a vertical semiconductor channel and a vertical stack of memory elements, a dielectric moat structure vertically extending through the alternating stack and including an annular dielectric plate portion at each level of the electrically conductive layers that laterally surrounds a respective dielectric material plate, and an interconnection via structure laterally surrounded by the dielectric moat structure and vertically extending through each insulating layer within the alternating stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Koichi MATSUNO, James KAI, Jixin YU, Johann ALSMEIER, Yoshitaka OTSU
  • Patent number: 11043455
    Abstract: A vertically alternating sequence of continuous insulating layers and continuous sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. Memory stack structures are formed through the vertically alternating sequence. The vertically alternating sequence is divided into alternating stacks of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers by forming backside trenches therethrough. Each neighboring pair of alternating stacks is laterally spaced apart from each other by a respective backside trench. The sacrificial material layers are replaced with multipart layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: James Kai, Johann Alsmeier, Jixin Yu
  • Publication number: 20210028111
    Abstract: A vertically alternating sequence of continuous insulating layers and continuous sacrificial material layers is formed over a substrate. Memory stack structures are formed through the vertically alternating sequence. The vertically alternating sequence is divided into alternating stacks of insulating layers and sacrificial material layers by forming backside trenches therethrough. Each neighboring pair of alternating stacks is laterally spaced apart from each other by a respective backside trench. The sacrificial material layers are replaced with multipart layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: James KAI, Johann Alsmeier, Jixin YU
  • Patent number: 10854629
    Abstract: An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers is formed over a substrate. A staircase region having stepped surfaces is formed by patterning the alternating stack. Memory opening fill structures are formed in a memory array region, and support pillar structures are formed in the staircase region. Each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel. The support pillar structures include first support pillar structures and having a first maximum lateral dimension and second support pillar structures having a second maximum lateral dimension that is less than the first maximum lateral dimension and interlaced with the first support pillar structures. The sacrificial material layers are replaced with electrically conductive layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Chun Ge, Jixin Yu, Fabo Yu, Xin Yuan Li, Yanli Zhang
  • Patent number: 10825826
    Abstract: Three-dimensional memory devices in the form of a memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, in which each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. Bit lines are electrically connected to an end portion of a respective one of the vertical semiconductor channels. Bump connection via structures contact a top surface of a respective one of the bit lines, in which each of the bump connection via structures has a greater lateral dimension along a lengthwise direction of the bit lines than along a widthwise direction of the bit lines. Metallic bump structures of another semiconductor die contact respective ones of the bump connection via structures to make respective electrical connections between the two dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jixin Yu, Tae-Kyung Kim, Johann Alsmeier, Yan Li, Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 10804197
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a pair of alternating stacks of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a semiconductor region, and laterally spaced from each other by a backside trench, memory stack structures extending through the pair of alternating, each memory stack structure containing a vertical semiconductor channel and a memory film, and a backside contact assembly located in the backside trench. The backside contact assembly includes an isolation dielectric spacer contacting the pair of alternating stacks, a conductive liner contacting inner sidewalls of the isolation dielectric spacer and a top surface of the semiconductor region, and composite non-metallic core containing at least one outer dielectric fill material portion that is laterally enclosed by a lower portion of the conductive liner and a dielectric core contacting an inner sidewall of the at least one outer dielectric fill material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Motoki Kawasaki, Arata Okuyama, Xun Gu, Kengo Kajiwara, Jixin Yu
  • Publication number: 20200312865
    Abstract: An alternating stack of insulating layers and spacer material layers is formed over a substrate. A staircase region having stepped surfaces is formed by patterning the alternating stack. Memory opening fill structures are formed in a memory array region, and support pillar structures are formed in the staircase region. Each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel. The support pillar structures include first support pillar structures and having a first maximum lateral dimension and second support pillar structures having a second maximum lateral dimension that is less than the first maximum lateral dimension and interlaced with the first support pillar structures. The sacrificial material layers are replaced with electrically conductive layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Chun Ge, Jixin Yu, Fabo Yu, Xin Yuan Li, Yanli Zhang
  • Publication number: 20200312765
    Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes a pair of alternating stacks of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a semiconductor region, and laterally spaced from each other by a backside trench, memory stack structures extending through the pair of alternating, each memory stack structure containing a vertical semiconductor channel and a memory film, and a backside contact assembly located in the backside trench. The backside contact assembly includes an isolation dielectric spacer contacting the pair of alternating stacks, a conductive liner contacting inner sidewalls of the isolation dielectric spacer and a top surface of the semiconductor region, and composite non-metallic core containing at least one outer dielectric fill material portion that is laterally enclosed by a lower portion of the conductive liner and a dielectric core contacting an inner sidewall of the at least one outer dielectric fill material portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Motoki KAWASAKI, Arata OKUYAMA, Xun GU, Kengo KAJIWARA, Jixin YU
  • Publication number: 20200295029
    Abstract: Three-dimensional memory devices in the form of a memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, in which each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. Bit lines are electrically connected to an end portion of a respective one of the vertical semiconductor channels. Bump connection via structures contact a top surface of a respective one of the bit lines, in which each of the bump connection via structures has a greater lateral dimension along a lengthwise direction of the bit lines than along a widthwise direction of the bit lines. Metallic bump structures of another semiconductor die contact respective ones of the bump connection via structures to make respective electrical connections between the two dies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Jixin Yu, Tae-Kyung Kim, Johann Alsmeier, Yan Li, Jian Chen
  • Patent number: 10707228
    Abstract: Three-dimensional memory devices in the form of a memory die includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack, in which each of the memory stack structures includes a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. Bit lines are electrically connected to an end portion of a respective one of the vertical semiconductor channels. Bump connection via structures contact a top surface of a respective one of the bit lines, in which each of the bump connection via structures has a greater lateral dimension along a lengthwise direction of the bit lines than along a widthwise direction of the bit lines. Metallic bump structures of another semiconductor die contact respective ones of the bump connection via structures to make respective electrical connections between the two dies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: SANDISK TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Jixin Yu, Tae-Kyung Kim, Johann Alsmeier, Yan Li, Jian Chen