Patents by Inventor Jordan D. Greenlee

Jordan D. Greenlee 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11972978
    Abstract: A method used in forming a conductive via of integrated circuitry comprises forming a lining laterally over sidewalls of an elevationally-elongated opening. The lining comprises elemental-form silicon. The elemental-form silicon of an uppermost portion of the lining is ion implanted in the elevationally-elongated opening. The ion-implanted elemental-form silicon of the uppermost portion of the lining is etched selectively relative to the elemental-form silicon of a lower portion of the lining below the uppermost portion that was not subjected to said ion implanting. The elemental-form silicon of the lower portion of the lining is reacted with a metal halide to form elemental-form metal in a lower portion of the elevationally-elongated opening that is the metal from the metal halide. Conductive material in the elevationally-elongated opening is formed atop and directly against the elemental-form metal. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yiping Wang, Jordan D. Greenlee, Collin Howder
  • 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: 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
  • 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: 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: 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: 11923415
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a source structure. The source structure includes, in ascending order, a first conductively-doped semiconductor material, one or more first insulative layers, a second conductively-doped semiconductor material, one or more second insulative layers, and a third conductively-doped semiconductor material. The source structure includes blocks extending through the second conductively-doped semiconductor material. Conductive levels are over the source structure. Channel material extends vertically along the conductive levels, and extends into the source structure to be in direct contact with the second conductively-doped semiconductor material. One or more memory cell materials are between the channel material and the conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20240074179
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises a conductor tier comprising conductor material. Laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprise a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers directly above the conductor tier. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The channel material of individual of the channel-material strings is directly electrically coupled to the conductor material of the conductor tier. Intervening material is laterally-between and longitudinally-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks. The intervening material comprises insulating material. The conductor material in the conductor tier comprises a pair of side interfaces that individually extend downwardly from a top of the conductor tier on one of opposing sides of the intervening material and individually extend longitudinally-along the immediately-laterally-adjacent memory blocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Damir Fazil, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240071502
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for staircase formation in a memory array are described. A first liner material may be deposited on a tread above a first contact surface and a portion of the first liner material may be doped. A second liner material may be deposited over the first liner and a portion of the second liner material may be doped. After doping the portions of the liner materials, the undoped portions of the liner materials may be removed so that the materials above a second contact surface can be at least partially removed via a first removal process. The doped portion of the first liner material may then be cut back so that a second removal process can expose the second contact surface and a third contact (while the first contact surface is protected from the removal process by the liner materials).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, Lifang Xu, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240071816
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for staircase formation in a memory array are described. A liner composed of a first liner material may be deposited on a tread and a first portion of the liner may be doped. After doping the first portion of the liner, a second portion of the liner may be converted into a second liner material using a chemical process. After converting the second portion of the liner into the second liner material, the first portion of the liner material may be removed so that a subsequent removal process can expose a first sub-tread. After exposing the first sub-tread, the second portion of the liner may be removed so that a second sub-tread is exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, Lifang Xu, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240071495
    Abstract: Memory circuitry comprising strings of memory cells comprises a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers in a memory-array region. The insulative tiers and the conductive tiers extend from the memory-array region into a stair-step region. The stair-step region comprises a cavity comprising a flight of stairs having insulative material atop treads of the stairs. Individual of the treads comprise conducting material of one of the conductive tiers. Conductive vias extend through the insulative material. Individual of the conductive vias are directly above and directly against the conducting material of the respective individual tread. A lining is over sidewalls of the individual conductive vias. The lining has a bottom. The individual conductive vias are directly under the bottom of the lining directly above the conducting material of the respective individual tread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiewei Chen, Jordan D. Greenlee, Shuangqiang Luo, Silvia Borsari
  • Patent number: 11910596
    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 said other region, and separates a first memory-block-region from a second memory-block-region. Doped-semiconductor-material is directly adjacent to the panel within the memory region and the other region. Rings laterally surround lower regions of the conductive posts. The rings are between the conductive posts and the doped-semiconductor-material. The rings include laminates of two or more materials, with at least one of said two or more materials being insulative. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11910606
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory device having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. The conductive levels include first regions, and include second regions laterally adjacent to the first regions. The first regions have a first vertical thickness and at least two different metal-containing materials along the first vertical thickness. The second regions have a second vertical thickness at least as large as the first vertical thickness, and have only a single metal-containing material along the second vertical thickness. Dielectric-barrier material is laterally adjacent to the first regions. Charge-blocking material is laterally adjacent to the dielectric-barrier material. Charge-storage material is laterally adjacent to the charge-blocking material. Dielectric material is laterally adjacent to the charge storage material. Channel material is laterally adjacent to the dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240057335
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a second deck over a first deck. The first deck has first memory cell levels, and the second deck has second memory cell levels. A pair of cell-material-pillars pass through the first and second decks. Memory cells are along the first and second memory cell levels. The cell-material-pillars are a first pillar and a second pillar. An intermediate level is between the first and second decks. The intermediate level includes a region between the first and second pillars. The region includes a first segment adjacent the first pillar, a second segment adjacent the second pillar, and a third segment between the first and second segments. The first and second segments include a first composition, and the third segment includes a second composition different from the first composition. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11895834
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. Horizontally-elongated trenches are between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks. Conductor material is in and extends elevationally along sidewalls of the trenches laterally-over the conductive tiers and the insulative tiers and directly electrically couples together conducting material of individual of the conductive tiers. The conductor material is exposed to oxidizing conditions to form an insulative oxide laterally-through the conductor material laterally-over individual of the insulative tiers to separate the conducting material of the individual conductive tiers from being directly electrically coupled together by the conductor material. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiewei Chen, Jordan D. Greenlee, Mithun Kumar Ramasahayam, Nancy M. Lomeli