Patents by Inventor John D. Hopkins

John D. Hopkins 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: 20240153877
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure, a staircase structure, conductive pad structures, and conductive contact structures. The stack structure includes vertically alternating conductive structures and insulating structures arranged in tiers. Each of the tiers individually includes one of the conductive structures and one of the insulating structures. The staircase structure has steps made up of edges of at least some of the tiers of the stack structure. The conductive pad structures are on the steps of the staircase structure and include beta phase tungsten. The conductive contact structures are on the conductive pad structures. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming microelectronic devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, Lifang Xu, Daniel Billingsley, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20240147727
    Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming isolated nitride structures on steps of stair step structures comprising stacked tiers comprising alternating levels of a first insulative material and a second insulative material, forming a photoresist material over some of the stair step structures, and replacing the isolated nitride structures and the second insulative material with an electrically conductive material to respectively form conductive pad structures and electrically conductive lines. Related microelectronic devices and electronic devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, John D. Hopkins, Roger W. Lindsay, Shuangqiang Luo
  • Patent number: 11974429
    Abstract: A memory array comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. Intervening material is laterally-between and longitudinally-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks. The intervening material in a lowest of the conductive tiers comprises intervenor material. Bridges extend laterally-between the immediately-laterally-adjacent memory blocks. The bridges comprise bridging material that is of different composition from that of the intervenor material. The bridges are longitudinally-spaced-along the immediately-laterally-adjacent memory blocks by the intervenor material and extend laterally into the immediately-laterally-adjacent memory blocks. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee, Nancy M. Lomeli, Alyssa N. Scarbrough
  • Publication number: 20240138145
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. A channel-material string is in individual channel openings in the vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. A conductor-material contact is in the individual channel openings directly against the channel material of individual of the channel-material strings. The conductor-material contacts are vertically recessed in the individual channel openings. A conductive via is formed in the individual channel openings directly against the vertically-recessed conductor-material contact in that individual channel opening. Other aspects, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Darwin A. Clampitt, Michael J. Puett, Christopher R. Ritchie
  • Patent number: 11967632
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a conductor tier comprising conductor material on a substrate. A stack is formed comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers above the conductor tier. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions having horizontally-elongated trenches there-between. Channel-material strings extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Material of the first tiers is of different composition from that of the second tiers. A lowest of the first tiers is thicker than the first tiers there-above. The first-tier material is isotropically etched selectively relative to the second-tier material to form void-space in the first tiers. Conducting material is deposited into the trenches and into the void-space in the first tiers. The conducting material fills the void-space in the first tiers that are above the lowest first tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Inventor: John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20240130121
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprising tiers of alternating dielectric materials and conductive materials, pillars extending through the tiers, and a doped dielectric material adjacent to the tiers. The doped dielectric material comprises a heterogeneous chemical composition comprising one or more dopants. Conductive contact structures are in the doped dielectric material. Additional microelectronic devices, microelectronic systems, and methods of forming microelectronic devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11963359
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first memory region, a second memory region, and an intermediate region between the first and second memory regions. The intermediate region has a first edge proximate the first memory region and has a second edge proximate the second memory region. Channel-material-pillars are arranged within the first and second memory regions. Conductive posts are arranged within the intermediate region. Doped-semiconductor-material is within the intermediate region and is configured as a substantially H-shaped structure having a first leg region along the first edge, a second leg region along the second edge, and a belt region adjacent the panel. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11955330
    Abstract: A method of forming a microelectronic device comprises forming openings in an interdeck region and a first deck structure, the first deck structure comprising alternating levels of a first insulative material and a second insulative material, forming a first sacrificial material in the openings, removing a portion of the first sacrificial material from the interdeck region to expose sidewalls of the first insulative material and the second insulative material in the interdeck region, removing a portion of the first insulative material and the second insulative material in the interdeck region to form tapered sidewalls in the interdeck region, removing remaining portions of the first sacrificial material from the openings, and forming at least a second sacrificial material in the openings. Related methods of forming a microelectronic devices and related microelectronic devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Damir Fazil
  • Patent number: 11956950
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The conductive tiers comprise metal along sides of the memory blocks. Silicon is formed between the memory blocks over the metal of the conductive tiers. The silicon and the metal react to form metal silicide therefrom that is directly against and longitudinally-along the metal of individual of the conductive tiers. After the reacting, unreacted of the silicon is removed from between the memory blocks and intervening material is formed between and longitudinally-along the memory blocks. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli
  • Patent number: 11956955
    Abstract: A liner is formed laterally-outside of individual channel-material strings in one of first tiers and in one of second tiers. The liners are isotropically etched to form void-spaces in the one second tier above the one first tier. Individual of the void-spaces are laterally-between the individual channel-material strings and the second-tier material in the one second tier. Conductively-doped semiconductive material is formed against sidewalls of the channel material of the channel-material strings in the one first tier and that extends upwardly into the void-spaces in the one second tier. The conductively-doped semiconductive material is heated to diffuse conductivity-increasing dopants therein from the void-spaces laterally into the channel material laterally there-adjacent and upwardly into the channel material that is above the void-spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli
  • Publication number: 20240114686
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings of memory cells are in the stack. The channel-material strings project upwardly from material of an uppermost of the tiers. A first insulator material is above the material of the uppermost tier directly against sides of channel material of the upwardly-projecting channel-material strings. The first insulator material comprises at least one of (a) and (b), where (a): silicon, nitrogen, and one or more of carbon, oxygen, boron, and phosphorus, and (b): silicon carbide. Second insulator material is above the first insulator material. The first and second insulator materials comprise different compositions relative one another. Conductive vias in the second insulator material are individually directly electrically coupled to individual of the channel-material strings. Other embodiments, including methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Lifang Xu
  • Patent number: 11948639
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers comprising laterally-spaced memory-block regions having horizontally-elongated trenches there-between. Two of the first tiers have different vertical thicknesses relative one another. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Through the horizontally-elongated trenches, first conductive material is formed in void space in the two first tiers. The first conductive material fills the first tier of the two first tiers that has a smaller of the different vertical thicknesses in individual of the memory-block regions. The first conductive material less-than-fills the first tier of the two first tiers that has a larger of the different vertical thicknesses in the individual memory-block regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Alyssa N. Scarbrough
  • Patent number: 11950416
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first memory region, a second memory region offset from the first memory region, and an intermediate region between the first and second memory regions. Channel-material-pillars are arranged within the memory regions. Conductive posts are arranged within the intermediate region. A panel extends across the memory regions and the intermediate region. The panel is laterally between a first memory-block-region and a second memory-block-region. Doped-semiconductor-material is within the memory regions and the intermediate region, and is directly adjacent to the panel. The doped-semiconductor-material is at least part of conductive source structures within the memory regions. Insulative rings laterally surround lower regions of the conductive posts and are between the conductive posts and the doped-semiconductor-material. Insulative liners are along upper regions of the conductive posts. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11950415
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a memory region and another region adjacent the memory region. Channel-material-pillars are arranged within the memory region, and conductive posts are arranged within said other region. A source structure is coupled to lower regions of the channel-material-pillars. A panel extends across the memory region and the other region. Doped-semiconductor-material is directly adjacent to the panel within the memory region and the other region. The doped-semiconductor-material is at least part of the source structure within the memory region. Liners are directly adjacent to the conductive posts and laterally surround the conductive posts. The liners are between the conductive posts and the doped-semiconductor-material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20240107768
    Abstract: Electronic devices (e.g., semiconductor devices, which may be configured for 3D NAND memory devices), comprise pillars extending through a stack of alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers. The conductive tiers, which may include control gates for access lines (e.g., word lines), include conductive rails along an outer sidewall of the conductive tiers, distal from the pillars extending through the conductive tiers. The conductive rails protrude laterally beyond outer sidewalls of the insulative tiers. The conductive rails increase the amount of conductive material that may otherwise be in the conductive tiers, which may enable the conductive material to exhibit a lower electrical resistance, improving operational performance of the electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Rita J. Klein, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11937429
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having vertically-stacked conductive levels alternating with dielectric levels. A layer over the conductive levels includes silicon, nitrogen, and one or more of carbon, oxygen, boron and phosphorus. In some embodiments the vertically-stacked conductive levels are wordline levels within a NAND memory array. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having vertically-stacked conductive levels alternating with dielectric levels. Vertically-stacked NAND memory cells are along the conductive levels within a memory array region. A staircase region is proximate the memory array region. The staircase region has electrical contacts in one-to-one correspondence with the conductive levels. A layer is over the memory array region and over the staircase region. The layer includes silicon, nitrogen, and one or more of carbon, oxygen, boron and phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, Fei Wang, Chet E. Carter, Ian Laboriante, John D. Hopkins, Kunal Shrotri, Ryan Meyer, Vinayak Shamanna, Kunal R. Parekh, Martin C. Roberts, Matthew Park
  • Publication number: 20240081052
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a conductor tier comprising conductor material on a substrate. Laterally-spaced memory-block regions are formed that individually comprise a vertical stack comprising alternating first tiers and second tiers directly above the conductor tier. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Horizontally-elongated lines are formed in the conductor tier between the laterally-spaced memory-block regions. The horizontally-elongated lines are of different composition from an upper portion of the conductor material and comprise metal material. After the horizontally-elongated lines are formed, conductive material is formed in a lower of the first tiers and that directly electrically couples together the channel material of individual of the channel-material strings and the conductor material of the conductor tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20240081070
    Abstract: Source terminals of memory devices and related apparatuses, computing systems, and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first polysilicon material, a second polysilicon material offset from the first polysilicon material, an intervening polysilicon material between the first polysilicon material and the second polysilicon material, and pillars defining memory cells. The pillars extend through the second polysilicon material and a proximal portion of the intervening polysilicon material into the first polysilicon material. The one or more insulative materials are at a distal edge of the intervening polysilicon material. The intervening polysilicon material is thicker at the distal edge than at the pillars. A method includes removing, using an isotropic etch process, portions of the first polysilicon material and the second polysilicon material in a trench and forming the intervening polysilicon material between the first polysilicon material and the second polysilicon material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240081057
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a source contact adjacent to a source stack, the source stack including one or more conductive materials, tiers of alternating conductive material and dielectric materials adjacent to the source contact, pillars extending vertically through the tiers and the source contact and at least partially into the source contact, a fill material extending vertically through the tiers to the source contact, and a metal silicide material between the fill material and an upper surface of the source contact. Related devices, systems, and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins, Andrew L. Li
  • Patent number: 11922950
    Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving audio input by a microphone of an access control device that controls access through a passageway, processing an audio signal associated with the audio input to identify and authenticate a user, determining a command corresponding with the audio signal in response to identification and authentication of the user, and performing at least one action that corresponds with the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Schlage Lock Company LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Langenberg, Joseph W. Baumgarte, Joshua Long, Brady Plummer, John D. Goodwin, Dakoda Johnson, Benjamin J. Hopkins, Robert Prostko, Robert Martens