Patents by Inventor John Smythe

John Smythe 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).

  • Patent number: 9249498
    Abstract: Forming memory using high power impulse magnetron sputtering is described herein. One or more method embodiments include forming a resistive memory material on a structure using high power impulse magnetron sputtering (HIPIMS), wherein the resistive memory material is formed on the structure in an environment having a temperature of approximately 400 degrees Celsius or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongjun Jeff Hu, Everett A. McTeer, John A. Smythe, III, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 9214627
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may have a first electrode, and a trench-shaped programmable material structure over the first electrode. The trench-shape defines an opening. The programmable material may be configured to reversibly retain a conductive bridge. The memory cell may have an ion source material directly against the programmable material, and may have a second electrode within the opening defined by the trench-shaped programmable material. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells. The arrays may have first electrically conductive lines, and trench-shaped programmable material structures over the first lines. The trench-shaped structures may define openings within them. Ion source material may be directly against the programmable material, and second electrically conductive lines may be over the ion source material and within the openings defined by the trench-shaped structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sanh D. Tang, John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20150357568
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a high density resistive random access memory (RRAM) device, as well as methods of fabricating a high density RRAM device. One method of forming an RRAM device includes forming a resistive element having a metal-metal oxide interface. Forming the resistive element includes forming an insulative material over the first electrode, and forming a via in the insulative material. The via is conformally filled with a metal material, and the metal material is planarized to within the via. A portion of the metal material within the via is selectively treated to create a metal-metal oxide interface within the via. A second electrode is formed over the resistive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph N. Greeley, John A. Smythe, III
  • Publication number: 20150357284
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices comprise at least one integrated circuit layer, at least one conductive trace and an insulative material adjacent at least a portion of the at least one conductive trace. At least one interconnect structure extends through a portion of the at least one conductive trace and a portion of the insulative material, the at least one interconnect structure comprising a transverse cross-sectional dimension through the at least one conductive trace which differs from a transverse cross-sectional dimension through the insulative material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Nishant Sinha, John A. Smythe
  • Publication number: 20150311437
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory cell material comprises forming a first portion of a dielectric material over a substrate by atomic layer deposition. Discrete conductive particles are formed on the first portion of the dielectric material by atomic layer deposition. A second portion of the dielectric material is formed on and between the discrete conductive particles by atomic layer deposition. A memory cell material, a method of forming a semiconductor device structure, and a semiconductor device structure are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, John A. Smythe
  • Patent number: 9142770
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a high density resistive random access memory (RRAM) device, as well as methods of fabricating a high density RRAM device. One method of forming an RRAM device includes forming a resistive element having a metal-metal oxide interface. Forming the resistive element includes forming an insulative material over the first electrode, and forming a via in the insulative material. The via is conformally filled with a metal material, and the metal material is planarized to within the via. A portion of the metal material within the via is selectively treated to create a metal-metal oxide interface within the via. A second electrode is formed over the resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Greeley, John A. Smythe, III
  • Patent number: 9123888
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may have a first electrode, and a trench-shaped programmable material structure over the first electrode. The trench-shape defines an opening. The programmable material may be configured to reversibly retain a conductive bridge. The memory cell may have an ion source material directly against the programmable material, and may have a second electrode within the opening defined by the trench-shaped programmable material. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells. The arrays may have first electrically conductive lines, and trench-shaped programmable material structures over the first lines. The trench-shaped structures may define openings within them. Ion source material may be directly against the programmable material, and second electrically conductive lines may be over the ion source material and within the openings defined by the trench-shaped structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sanh D. Tang, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 9111932
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices comprise at least one integrated circuit layer, at least one conductive trace and an insulative material adjacent at least a portion of the at least one conductive trace. At least one interconnect structure extends through a portion of the at least one conductive trace and a portion of the insulative material, the at least one interconnect structure comprising a transverse cross-sectional dimension through the at least one conductive trace which differs from a transverse cross-sectional dimension through the insulative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gurtej S. Sandhu, Nishant Sinha, John A. Smythe
  • Publication number: 20150221864
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may have a first electrode, and a trench-shaped programmable material structure over the first electrode. The trench-shape defines an opening. The programmable material may be configured to reversibly retain a conductive bridge. The memory cell may have an ion source material directly against the programmable material, and may have a second electrode within the opening defined by the trench-shaped programmable material. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells. The arrays may have first electrically conductive lines, and trench-shaped programmable material structures over the first lines. The trench-shaped structures may define openings within them. Ion source material may be directly against the programmable material, and second electrically conductive lines may be over the ion source material and within the openings defined by the trench-shaped structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sanh D. Tang, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 9087989
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes GCIB-treated resistive devices, devices utilizing GCIB-treated resistive devices (e.g., as switches, memory cells), and methods for forming the GCIB-treated resistive devices. One method of forming a GCIB-treated resistive device includes forming a lower electrode, and forming an oxide material on the lower electrode. The oxide material is exposed to a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) until a change in resistance of a first portion of the oxide material relative to the resistance of a second portion of the oxide material. An upper electrode is formed on the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John A Smythe, III, Gurtej S Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20150200360
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes GCIB-treated resistive devices, devices utilizing GCIB-treated resistive devices (e.g., as switches, memory cells), and methods for forming the GCIB-treated resistive devices. One method of forming a GCIB-treated resistive device includes forming a lower electrode, and forming an oxide material on the lower electrode. The oxide material is exposed to a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) until a change in resistance of a first portion of the oxide material relative to the resistance of a second portion of the oxide material. An upper electrode is formed on the first portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: John A. Smythe, III, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 9034570
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns of openings. The methods may include forming spaced features over a substrate. The features may have tops and may have sidewalls extending downwardly from the tops. A first material may be formed along the tops and sidewalls of the features. The first material may be formed by spin-casting a conformal layer of the first material across the features, or by selective deposition along the features relative to the substrate. After the first material is formed, fill material may be provided between the features while leaving regions of the first material exposed. The exposed regions of the first material may then be selectively removed relative to both the fill material and the features to create the pattern of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, John Smythe, Ming Zhang
  • Patent number: 8993044
    Abstract: Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are disclosed, and which include an inner conductive metal capacitor electrode and an outer conductive metal capacitor electrode. A capacitor dielectric region is received between the inner and the outer conductive metal capacitor electrodes and has a thickness no greater than 150 Angstroms. Various combinations of materials of thicknesses and relationships relative one another are disclosed which enables and results in the dielectric region having a dielectric constant k of at least 35 yet leakage current no greater than 1×10?7 amps/cm2 at from ?1.1V to +1.1V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishikesh Krishnan, John Smythe, Vishwanath Bhat, Noel Rocklein, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Jeff Hull, Chris Carlson
  • Patent number: 8963330
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming layers conformally over undulating surface topographies associated with semiconductor substrates. The undulating surface topographies can first be exposed to one or more of titanium oxide, neodymium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide and vanadium oxide to treat the surfaces, and can be subsequently exposed to a material that forms a layer conformally along the treated surfaces. The material can, for example, comprise an aluminum-containing compound and one or both of silane and silazane. The invention also includes semiconductor constructions having conformal layers formed over liners containing one or more of titanium oxide, yttrium oxide, zirconium oxide and vanadium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20150001674
    Abstract: Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are disclosed, and which include an inner conductive metal capacitor electrode and an outer conductive metal capacitor electrode. A capacitor dielectric region is received between the inner and the outer conductive metal capacitor electrodes and has a thickness no greater than 150 Angstroms. Various combinations of materials of thicknesses and relationships relative one another are disclosed which enables and results in the dielectric region having a dielectric constant k of at least 35 yet leakage current no greater than 1×10?7 amps/cm2 at from ?1.1V to +1.1V.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Rishikesh Krishnan, John Smythe, Vishwanath Bhat, Noel Rocklein, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Jeff Hull, Chris Carlson
  • Patent number: 8907315
    Abstract: A method of forming a memory cell includes forming programmable material within an opening in dielectric material over an elevationally inner conductive electrode of the memory cell. Conductive electrode material is formed over the dielectric material and within the opening. The programmable material within the opening has an elevationally outer edge surface angling elevationally and laterally inward relative to a sidewall of the opening. The conductive electrode material is formed to cover over the angling surface of the programmable material within the opening. The conductive electrode material is removed back at least to an elevationally outermost surface of the dielectric material and to leave the conductive electrode material covering over the angling surface of the programmable material within the opening. The conductive electrode material constitutes at least part of an elevationally outer conductive electrode of the memory cell. Memory cells independent of method of manufacture are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Smythe, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20140339494
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells. The memory cells may have a first electrode, and a trench-shaped programmable material structure over the first electrode. The trench-shape defines an opening. The programmable material may be configured to reversibly retain a conductive bridge. The memory cell may have an ion source material directly against the programmable material, and may have a second electrode within the opening defined by the trench-shaped programmable material. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells. The arrays may have first electrically conductive lines, and trench-shaped programmable material structures over the first lines. The trench-shaped structures may define openings within them. Ion source material may be directly against the programmable material, and second electrically conductive lines may be over the ion source material and within the openings defined by the trench-shaped structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sanh D. Tang, John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20140319446
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a high density resistive random access memory (RRAM) device, as well as methods of fabricating a high density RRAM device. One method of forming an RRAM device includes forming a resistive element having a metal-metal oxide interface. Forming the resistive element includes forming an insulative material over the first electrode, and forming a via in the insulative material. The via is conformally filled with a metal material, and the metal material is planarized to within the via. A portion of the metal material within the via is selectively treated to create a metal-metal oxide interface within the via. A second electrode is formed over the resistive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph N. Greeley, John A. Smythe, III
  • Patent number: 8861179
    Abstract: Capacitors and methods of forming capacitors are disclosed, and which include an inner conductive metal capacitor electrode and an outer conductive metal capacitor electrode. A capacitor dielectric region is received between the inner and the outer conductive metal capacitor electrodes and has a thickness no greater than 150 Angstroms. Various combinations of materials of thicknesses and relationships relative one another are disclosed which enables and results in the dielectric region having a dielectric constant k of at least 35 yet leakage current no greater than 1×10?7 amps/cm2 at from ?1.1V to +1.1V.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishikesh Krishnan, John Smythe, Vishwanath Bhat, Noel Rocklein, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Jeff Hull, Chris Carlson
  • Publication number: 20140299997
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed, including for increasing the density of isolated features in an integrated circuit. Also disclosed are associated structures. In some embodiments, contacts are formed on pitch with other structures, such as conductive interconnects that may be formed by pitch multiplication. To form the contacts, in some embodiments, a pattern corresponding to some of the contacts is formed in a selectively definable material such as photoresist. Features in the selectively definable material are trimmed, and spacer material is blanket deposited over the features and the deposited material is then etched to leave spacers on sides of the features. The selectively definable material is removed, leaving a mask defined by the spacer material. The pattern defined by the spacer material may be transferred to a substrate, to form on pitch contacts. In some embodiments, the on pitch contacts may be used to electrically contact conductive interconnects in the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Gurtej Sandhu, Mark Kiehlbauch, Steve Kramer, John Smythe