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: 8598560
    Abstract: A resistive memory element comprising a conductive material, an active material over the conductive material, and an ion source material on the active material and comprising at least one chalcogen, at least one active metal, and at least one additional element. Additional resistive memory elements, as well as methods of forming resistive memory elements, and related resistive memory cells and resistive memory devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Marko Milojevic, John A. Smythe, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8599608
    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: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John A. Smythe, Jr., Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20130313678
    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: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: John Smythe, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8575040
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices, structures and systems that utilize a polysilazane-based silicon oxide layer or fill, and methods of making the oxide layer are disclosed. In one embodiment, a polysilazane solution is deposited on a substrate and processed with ozone in a wet oxidation at low temperature to chemically modify the polysilazane material to a silicon oxide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Fucsko, John A. Smythe, III, Li Li, Grady S. Waldo
  • Patent number: 8557697
    Abstract: Atomic layer deposition methods as described herein can be advantageously used to form a metal-containing layer on a substrate. For example, certain methods as described herein can form a strontium titanate layer that has low carbon content (e.g., low strontium carbonate content), which can result in layer with a high dielectric constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Srinivasan, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8536561
    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: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sanh D. Tang, John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20130234091
    Abstract: Self-aligning fabrication methods for forming memory access devices comprising a doped chalcogenide material. The methods may be used for forming three-dimensionally stacked cross point memory arrays. The method includes forming an insulating material over a first conductive electrode, patterning the insulating material to form vias that expose portions of the first conductive electrode, forming a memory access device within the vias of the insulating material and forming a memory element over the memory access device, wherein data stored in the memory element is accessible via the memory access device. The memory access device is formed of a doped chalcogenide material and formed using a self-aligned fabrication method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Neil Greeley, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Gurtej Sandhu, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8530878
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells utilizing various arrangements of conductive lines, electrodes and programmable material; with the programmable material containing high k dielectric material directly against multivalent metal oxide. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells, with the memory cells including programmable material containing high k dielectric material directly against multivalent metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Smythe, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8461060
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming it are disclosed in which at least two adjacent conductors have an air-gap insulator between them which is covered by nanoparticles of insulating material being a size which prevent the nanoparticles from substantially entering into the air-gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishant Sinha, Gurtej Sandhu, Neil Greeley, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8455299
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods in which microwave radiation is used to activate dopant and/or increase crystallinity of semiconductor material during formation of a semiconductor construction. In some embodiments, the microwave radiation has a frequency of about 5.8 gigahertz, and a temperature of the semiconductor construction does not exceed about 500° C. during the exposure to the microwave radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Smythe, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Ming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130092894
    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: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Sanh D. Tang, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8415661
    Abstract: Self-aligning fabrication methods for forming memory access devices comprising a doped chalcogenide material. The methods may be used for forming three-dimensionally stacked cross point memory arrays. The method includes forming an insulating material over a first conductive electrode, patterning the insulating material to form vias that expose portions of the first conductive electrode, forming a memory access device within the vias of the insulating material and forming a memory element over the memory access device, wherein data stored in the memory element is accessible via the memory access device. The memory access device is formed of a doped chalcogenide material and formed using a self-aligned fabrication method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Greeley, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Gurtej Sandhu, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8409915
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells utilizing various arrangements of conductive lines, electrodes and programmable material; with the programmable material containing high k dielectric material directly against multivalent metal oxide. Some embodiments include arrays of memory cells, with the memory cells including programmable material containing high k dielectric material directly against multivalent metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Smythe, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8399952
    Abstract: Strontium ruthenium oxide provides an effective interface between a ruthenium conductor and a strontium titanium oxide dielectric. Formation of the strontium ruthenium oxide includes the use of atomic layer deposition to form strontium oxide and subsequent annealing of the strontium oxide to form the strontium ruthenium oxide. A first atomic layer deposition of strontium oxide is preformed using water as an oxygen source, followed by a subsequent atomic layer deposition of strontium oxide using ozone as an oxygen source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Srinivasan, Vassil Antonov, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8389385
    Abstract: Electronic apparatus, systems, and methods include a semiconductor layer bonded to a bulk region of a wafer or a substrate, in which the semiconductor layer can be bonded to the bulk region using electromagnetic radiation. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishant Sinha, Gurtej S. Sandhu, John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20130014696
    Abstract: An apparatus and process operate to impose acoustic radiation pressure upon a spin-on mass to alter topography of the spin-on mass. Other apparatus and processes are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nishant Sinha, Gurtej S. Sandhu, John Smythe
  • Patent number: 8349545
    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 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Sills, Gurtej Sandhu, John Smythe, Ming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130005080
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods in which microwave radiation is used to activate dopant and/or increase crystallinity of semiconductor material during formation of a semiconductor construction. In some embodiments, the microwave radiation has a frequency of about 5.8 gigahertz, and a temperature of the semiconductor construction does not exceed about 500° C. during the exposure to the microwave radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: John Smythe, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Ming Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130005143
    Abstract: A semiconductor device and a method of forming it are disclosed in which at least two adjacent conductors have an air-gap insulator between them which is covered by nanoparticles of insulating material being a size which prevent the nanoparticles from substantially entering into the air-gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Nishant Sinha, Gurtej Sandhu, Neil Greeley, John Smythe
  • Publication number: 20120320494
    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: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rishikesh Krishnan, John Smythe, Vishwanath Bhat, Noel Rocklein, Bhaskar Srinivasan, Jeff Hull, Chris Carlson