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: 20230320091
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory-blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers directly above conductor material of a conductor tier. Channel-material-string constructions extend through the insulative and conductive tiers to a lowest of the conductive tiers. The channel-material-string constructions individually comprise a charge-blocking-material string, a storage-material string laterally-inward of the charge-blocking-material string, a charge-passage-material string laterally-inward of the storage-material string, and a channel-material string laterally-inward of the charge-passage-material string. A lowest surface of the charge-blocking-material string that is above a lowest surface of the lowest conductive tier is below a lowest surface of a lowest of the insulative tiers that is immediately-above the lowest conductive tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, Jeffrey Ehorn, John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20230320092
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers directly above conductor material of a conductor tier. Channel-material-string constructions extend through the insulative and conductive tiers to a lowest of the conductive tiers. The channel-material-string constructions individually comprise a charge-blocking-material string, a storage-material string laterally-inward of the charge-blocking-material string, a charge-passage-material string laterally-inward of the storage-material string, and a channel-material string laterally-inward of the charge-passage-material string. Conductive material in the lowest conductive tier 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: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Collin Howder, John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20230307368
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers directly above a conductor tier. Strings of memory cells comprise channel-material strings that extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The channel-material strings directly electrically couple to conductor material of the conductor tier. A through-array-via (TAV) region comprises TAV constructions that individually extend through a lowest of the conductive tiers. The TAV constructions individually comprise an insulative lining having a lowest surface that is directly against metal material in the lowest conductive tier. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11765902
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Lifang Xu
  • Publication number: 20230292512
    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: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20230290409
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure, slot structures, and dielectric material. The stack structure includes blocks each including a vertically alternating sequence of conductive material and insulative material arranged in tiers. At least one of the blocks includes an array region including strings of memory cells, and a staircase region including a crest sub-region interposed between a staircase structure and the array region. An uppermost boundary of the tiers within the crest sub-region underlies an uppermost boundary of the tiers within the array region. The slot structures are interposed between the blocks of the stack structure. The dielectric material extends over and between the blocks of the stack structure. A thickness of a portion of the dielectric material overlying the crest sub-region is greater than a thickness of an additional portion of the dielectric material overlying the array region. Related memory devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Shuangqiang Luo, John D. Hopkins, Jiewei Chen, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20230290860
    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: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20230276622
    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. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions that have horizontally-elongated trenches there-between. Channel openings extend through the first tiers and the second tiers in the memory-block regions. Channel material of channel-material strings is formed in the channel openings and the channel material is formed in the horizontally-elongated trenches. The channel material is removed from the horizontally-elongated trenches and the channel material of the channel-material strings is left in the channel openings. After removing the channel material from the horizontally-elongated trenches, intervening material is formed in the horizontally-elongated trenches laterally-between and longitudinally-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory-block regions. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Alyssa N. Scarbrough
  • Patent number: 11744072
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first deck which has first memory cells, and having a second deck which has second memory cells. The first memory cells have first control gate regions which include a first conductive material vertically between horizontally-extending bars of a second conductive material. The second memory cells have second control gate regions which include a fourth conductive material along an outer surface of a third conductive material. A pillar passes through the first and second decks. The pillar includes a dielectric-barrier material laterally surrounding a channel material. The first and fourth materials are directly against the dielectric-barrier material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin B. Dorhout, Nirup Bandaru, Damir Fazil, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jivaan Kishore Jhothiraman, Purnima Narayanan
  • Patent number: 11744069
    Abstract: Integrated circuitry comprising a memory array comprises strings of memory cells comprising laterally-spaced memory blocks that individually comprise a first vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Strings of memory cells comprise channel-material strings that extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The conductive tiers individually comprise a horizontally-elongated conductive line. A second vertical stack is aside the first vertical stack. The second vertical stack comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion comprises alternating first insulating tiers and second insulating tiers. The lower portion comprises a lowest insulator tier directly above conductor material of a conductor tier. The lowest insulator tier comprises solid carbon and nitrogen-containing material. An immediately-adjacent tier is directly above the solid carbon and nitrogen-containing material of the lowest insulator tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Alyssa N. Scarbrough
  • Patent number: 11742282
    Abstract: Some embodiments include conductive interconnects which include the first and second conductive materials, and which extend upwardly from a conductive structure. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies having conductive interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, John D. Hopkins, Shuangqiang Luo, Song Kai Tan, Jing Wai Fong, Anurag Jindal, Chieh Hsien Quek
  • Publication number: 20230262976
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers having channel-material strings therein. Walls are formed above insulating material that is directly above the channel-material strings. Void space is laterally-between immediately-adjacent of the walls and that comprises a longitudinal outline of individual digitlines to be formed. Spaced openings are in the insulating material directly below the void space. Relative to the walls, a conductive metal nitride is selectively deposited in the void space, in the spaced openings, and atop the insulating material laterally-between the walls and the spaced openings to form a lower portion of the individual digitlines laterally-between the immediately-adjacent walls. The conductive metal nitride that is in individual of the spaced openings is directly electrically coupled to individual of the channel-material strings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20230262978
    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 individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating first tiers and second tiers are formed directly above the conductor tier. Channel-material strings extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. A void space is formed directly above the conductor tier laterally-across individual of the memory-block regions. The void space comprises an exposed silicon-containing surface. Conductively-doped silicon is selectively deposited onto and from the exposed silicon-containing surface. The conductively-doped silicon is directly electrically coupled to the channel material of the channel-material strings and is directly electrically coupled to the conductor material of the conductor tier and directly electrically couples the channel-material strings to the conductor material of the conductor tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20230253465
    Abstract: A memory array comprises strings of memory cells. The memory array comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers above a conductor tier. Channel-material-string constructions of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The channel material of the channel-material-string constructions is directly electrically coupled to conductor material of the conductor tier. Substructure material is in the conductor tier and spans laterally-across and laterally-between bottoms of multiple of the channel-material-string constructions. The substructure material is of different composition from an upper portion of the conductor material. The substructure material comprises laterally-opposing sides that taper laterally-inward moving deeper into the conductor tier. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Damir Fazil, Michael E. Koltonski
  • Publication number: 20230253043
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a stack comprising tiers of alternating conductive levels and insulative levels overlying a source, slots extending vertically through the stack and dividing the stack into blocks, and support pillars within the slots and extending vertically through the stack. The support pillars exhibit a lateral dimension in a first horizontal direction relatively larger than a lateral dimension of the slots in the first horizontal direction, substantially orthogonal to a second horizontal direction in which the slots extend. Related memory devices, systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, John D. Hopkins, Roger W. Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20230247828
    Abstract: A memory array comprises a conductor tier comprising upper conductor material directly above and directly electrically coupled to lower conductor material. The upper and lower conductor materials comprise different compositions relative one another. Laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprise alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers and through the upper conductor material into the lower conductor material. The channel material of the channel-material strings is directly electrically coupled to the upper and lower conductor materials of the conductor tier. Intervening material is laterally-between and longitudinally-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli
  • Patent number: 11716848
    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: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11715692
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising alternating conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers, each of the tiers individually comprising a conductive structure and an insulative structure, strings of memory cells vertically extending through the stack structure, the strings of memory cells comprising a channel material vertically extending through the stack structure, and conductive rails laterally adjacent to the conductive structures of the stack structure. The conductive rails comprise a material composition that is different than a material composition of the conductive structures of the stack structure. Related memory devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee, Francois H. Fabreguette, John A. Smythe
  • Patent number: 11706925
    Abstract: Device, systems, and structures include a stack of vertically-alternating tiers of materials arranged in one or more decks of tiers. A channel opening, in which a channel pillar may be formed, extends through the stack. The pillar includes a “shoulder portion” extending laterally into an “undercut portion” of the channel opening, which undercut portion is defined along at least a lower tier of at least one of the decks of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli, Justin B. Dorhout, Damir Fazil
  • Patent number: 11706918
    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. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. Channel-material strings extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Material of the first tiers is of different composition from material of the second tiers. Conducting material is formed in one of the first tiers. The conducting material comprises a seam in and longitudinally-along opposing sides of individual of the memory-block regions in the one first tier. The seam is penetrated with a fluid that forms intermediate material in the seam longitudinally-along the opposing sides of the individual memory-block regions in the one first tier and comprises a different composition from that of the conducting material. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins