Patents by Inventor John Hopkins

John 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: 20220310524
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses. One of the apparatuses includes a first dielectric material; a second dielectric material separated from the first dielectric material; a memory cell string including a pillar extending through the first and second dielectric materials, the pillar including a portion between the first and second dielectric materials; an additional dielectric material contacting the portion of the pillar; a conductive material contacting the additional dielectric material; and a tungsten structure including a portion of tungsten contacting the conductive material, wherein a majority of the portion of tungsten is beta-phase tungsten.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Rita J. Klein, Everett Allen McTeer, John Hopkins, David Ross Economy
  • Publication number: 20220199467
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Kar Wui Thong, Harsh Narendrakumar Jain, John Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20220068956
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods of forming the apparatuses. One of the apparatuses includes a first deck located over a substrate, and a second deck located over the first deck, and pillars extending through the first and second decks. The first deck includes first memory cells, first control gates associated with the first memory cells, and first conductive paths coupled to the first control gates. The second conductive paths include second conductive pads located on a first level of the apparatus over the substrate. The second deck includes second memory cells, second control gates associated with the second memory cells, and second conductive paths coupled to the second control gates. The second conductive paths include second conductive pads located on a second level of the apparatus. The first and second conductive pads having lengths in a direction perpendicular to a direction from the first deck to the second deck.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Darwin A. Clampitt, Shawn D. Lyonsmith, Matthew J. King, Lisa M. Clampitt, John Hopkins, Kevin Y. Titus, Indra V. Chary, Martin Jared Barclay, Anilkumar Chandolu, Pavithra Natarajan, Roger W. Lindsay
  • Publication number: 20210366931
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a stack structure including a source comprising polysilicon, an etch stop of oxide on the source, a select gate source on the etch stop, a charge storage structure over the select gate source, and a select gate drain over the charge storage structure. The semiconductor device may further include an opening extending vertically into the stack structure to a level adjacent to the source. A channel comprising polysilicon may be formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the opening. The channel may contact the source at a lower portion of the opening, and may be laterally separated from the charge storage structure by a tunnel oxide. A width of the channel adjacent to the select gate source is greater than a width of the channel adjacent to the select gate drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Hongbin Zhu, Zhenyu Lu, Gordon Haller, Jie Sun, Randy J. Koval, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11088168
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a stack structure including a source comprising polysilicon, an etch stop of oxide on the source, a select gate source on the etch stop, a charge storage structure over the select gate source, and a select gate drain over the charge storage structure. The semiconductor device may further include an opening extending vertically into the stack structure to a level adjacent to the source. A channel comprising polysilicon may be formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the opening. The channel may contact the source at a lower portion of the opening, and may be laterally separated from the charge storage structure by a tunnel oxide. A width of the channel adjacent to the select gate source is greater than a width of the channel adjacent to the select gate drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongbin Zhu, Zhenyu Lu, Gordon Haller, Jie Sun, Randy J. Koval, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10879259
    Abstract: Methods for forming a string of memory cells, apparatuses having a string of memory cells, and systems are disclosed. One such method for forming a string of memory cells forms a source material over a substrate. A capping material may be formed over the source material. A select gate material may be formed over the capping material. A plurality of charge storage structures may be formed over the select gate material in a plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials. A first opening may be formed through the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials, the select gate material, and the capping material. A channel material may be formed along the sidewall of the first opening. The channel material has a thickness that is less than a width of the first opening, such that a second opening is formed by the semiconductor channel material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jie Sun, Zhenyu Lu, Roger W. Lindsay, Brian Cleereman, John Hopkins, Hongbin Zhu, Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Prasanna Srinivasan, Purnima Narayanan
  • Patent number: 10847527
    Abstract: Vertical memories and methods of making the same are discussed generally herein. In one embodiment, a vertical memory can include a vertical pillar extending to a source, an etch stop tier over the source, and a stack of alternating dielectric tiers and conductive tiers over the etch stop tier. The etch stop tier can comprise a blocking dielectric adjacent to the pillar. In another embodiment, the etch stop tier can comprise a blocking dielectric adjacent to the pillar, and a plurality of dielectric films horizontally extending from the blocking dielectric into the etch stop tier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, John Hopkins, Srikant Jayanti
  • Patent number: 10833099
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having multiple decks of memory cells and associated control gates. A method includes forming a first deck having alternating conductor materials and dielectric materials and a hole containing materials extending through the conductor materials and the dielectric materials. The methods can also include forming a sacrificial material in an enlarged portion of the hole and forming a second deck of memory cells over the first deck. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Lu, Roger W. Lindsay, Akira Goda, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10803496
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein may include a system including a server configured to receive from the mobile device the digital image capturing the object, execute an object recognition protocol to identify one or more image features of the digital image, determine an identification of the object based upon the one or more features of the digital image identified by the executed object recognition protocol, generate an object profile of the object based upon one or more data records of the object stored in the system databases where each respective record containing at least one data point corresponding to a valuation of the respective object, determine a value of the data point based upon the valuation of the respective object and a characteristic of a member, and transmit to the mobile device the object profile for the object captured in the digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventor: John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10790290
    Abstract: A 3D NAND storage device includes a plurality of layers containing doped semiconductor material interleaved with a plurality of layers of dielectric material. Each of the pillars forming the 3D NAND storage device includes a plurality of memory cells and a drain-end select gate (SGD). The pillars are separated by a hollow channel in which a plurality of film layers, including at least a lower film layer and an upper film layer have been deposited. The systems and methods described herein remove at least the upper film layer proximate the SGD while maintaining the film layers proximate the memory cells. Such an arrangement beneficially permits tailoring the film layers proximate the SGD prior to depositing the channel film layer in the hollow channel. The systems and methods described herein permit the deposition of a continuous channel film layer proximate both the memory cells and the SGD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: David A. Daycock, Purnima Narayanan, John Hopkins, Guoxing Duan, Barbara L. Casey, Christopher J. Larsen, Meng-Wei Kuo, Qian Tao
  • Publication number: 20200266280
    Abstract: Protective dielectrics are discussed generally herein. In one or more embodiments, a three-dimensional vertical memory may include a protective dielectric material. A device may include an etch stop material, a first control gate (CG) over the etch stop material, a first CG recess adjacent the first CG, a trench adjacent the first CG recess, and an at least partially oxidized polysilicon on at least a portion of the etch stop material. The at least partially oxidized polysilicon may line a sidewall of the trench and may line the first CG recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: John Hopkins, Darwin Franseda Fan
  • Publication number: 20200227427
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a stack structure including a source comprising polysilicon, an etch stop of oxide on the source, a select gate source on the etch stop, a charge storage structure over the select gate source, and a select gate drain over the charge storage structure. The semiconductor device may further include an opening extending vertically into the stack structure to a level adjacent to the source. A channel comprising polysilicon may be formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the opening. The channel may contact the source at a lower portion of the opening, and may be laterally separated from the charge storage structure by a tunnel oxide. A width of the channel adjacent to the select gate source is greater than a width of the channel adjacent to the select gate drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Hongbin Zhu, Zhenyu Lu, Gordon Haller, Jie Sun, Randy J. Koval, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10608004
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor device having a stack structure including a source comprising polysilicon, an etch stop of oxide on the source, a select gate source on the etch stop, a charge storage structure over the select gate source, and a select gate drain over the charge storage structure. The semiconductor device may further include an opening extending vertically into the stack structure to a level adjacent to the source. A channel comprising polysilicon may be formed on a side surface and a bottom surface of the opening. The channel may contact the source at a lower portion of the opening, and may be laterally separated from the charge storage structure by a tunnel oxide. A width of the channel adjacent to the select gate source is greater than a width of the channel adjacent to the select gate drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongbin Zhu, Zhenyu Lu, Gordon Haller, Jie Sun, Randy J. Koval, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10573721
    Abstract: Protective dielectrics are discussed generally herein. In one or more embodiments, a three-dimensional vertical memory may include a protective dielectric material. A device may include an etch stop material, a first control gate (CG) over the etch stop material, a first CG recess adjacent the first CG, a trench adjacent the first CG recess, and an at least partially oxidized polysilicon on at least a portion of the etch stop material. The at least partially oxidized polysilicon may line a sidewall of the trench and may line the first CG recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hopkins, Darwin Franseda Fan
  • Publication number: 20190288002
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having multiple decks of memory cells and associated control gates. A method includes forming a first deck having alternating conductor materials and dielectric materials and a hole containing materials extending through the conductor materials and the dielectric materials. The methods can also include forming a sacrificial material in an enlarged portion of the hole and forming a second deck of memory cells over the first deck. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Zhenyu Lu, Roger W. Lindsay, Akira Goda, John Hopkins
  • Patent number: 10355008
    Abstract: Floating gate memory cells in vertical memory. A control gate is formed between a first tier of dielectric material and a second tier of dielectric material. A floating gate is formed between the first tier of dielectric material and the second tier of dielectric material, wherein the floating gate includes a protrusion extending towards the control gate. A charge blocking structure is formed between the floating gate and the control gate, wherein at least a portion of the charge blocking structure wraps around the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles H. Dennison, Akira Goda, John Hopkins, Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Krishna K. Parat
  • Publication number: 20190214399
    Abstract: Vertical memories and methods of making the same are discussed generally herein. In one embodiment, a vertical memory can include a vertical pillar extending to a source, an etch stop tier over the source, and a stack of alternating dielectric tiers and conductive tiers over the etch stop tier. The etch stop tier can comprise a blocking dielectric adjacent to the pillar. In another embodiment, the etch stop tier can comprise a blocking dielectric adjacent to the pillar, and a plurality of dielectric films horizontally extending from the blocking dielectric into the etch stop tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, John Hopkins, Srikant Jayanti
  • Patent number: 10340287
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having multiple decks of memory cells and associated control gates. A method includes forming a first deck having alternating conductor materials and dielectric materials and a hole containing materials extending through the conductor materials and the dielectric materials. The methods can also include forming a sacrificial material in an enlarged portion of the hole and forming a second deck of memory cells over the first deck. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Lu, Roger W. Lindsay, Akira Goda, John Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20190131315
    Abstract: Methods for forming a string of memory cells, apparatuses having a string of memory cells, and systems are disclosed. One such method for forming a string of memory cells forms a source material over a substrate. A capping material may be formed over the source material. A select gate material may be formed over the capping material. A plurality of charge storage structures may be formed over the select gate material in a plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials. A first opening may be formed through the plurality of alternating levels of control gate and insulator materials, the select gate material, and the capping material. A channel material may be formed along the sidewall of the first opening. The channel material has a thickness that is less than a width of the first opening, such that a second opening is formed by the semiconductor channel material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: Jie Sun, Zhenyu Lu, Roger W. Lindsay, Brian Cleereman, John Hopkins, Hongbin Zhu, Fatam Arzum Simsek-Ege, Prasanna Srinivasan, Purnima Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20190103410
    Abstract: A 3D NAND storage device includes a plurality of layers containing doped semiconductor material interleaved with a plurality of layers of dielectric material. Each of the pillars forming the 3D NAND storage device includes a plurality of memory cells and a drain-end select gate (SGD). The pillars are separated by a hollow channel in which a plurality of film layers, including at least a lower film layer and an upper film layer have been deposited. The systems and methods described herein remove at least the upper film layer proximate the SGD while maintaining the film layers proximate the memory cells. Such an arrangement beneficially permits tailoring the film layers proximate the SGD prior to depositing the channel film layer in the hollow channel. The systems and methods described herein permit the deposition of a continuous channel film layer proximate both the memory cells and the SGD.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: DAVID A. DAYCOCK, PURNIMA NARAYANAN, JOHN HOPKINS, GUOXING DUAN, BARBARA L. CASEY, CHRISTOPHER J. LARSEN, MENG-WEI KUO, QIAN TAO