Patents by Inventor Kirk D. Prall

Kirk D. Prall 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: 20210066306
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of capacitors comprises forming a vertical stack above a substrate. The stack comprises a horizontally-elongated conductive structure and an insulator material directly above the conductive structure. Horizontally-spaced openings are formed in the insulator material to the conductive structure. An upwardly-open container-shaped bottom capacitor electrode is formed in individual of the openings. The bottom capacitor electrode is directly against conductive material of the conductive structure. The conductive structure directly electrically couples the bottom capacitor electrodes together. A capacitor insulator is formed in the openings laterally-inward of the bottom capacitor electrodes. A top capacitor electrode is formed in individual of the openings laterally-inward of the capacitor insulator. The top capacitor electrodes are not directly electrically coupled together. Structure independent of method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Kirk D. Prall, Mitsunari Sukekawa
  • Publication number: 20210066328
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having a memory cell with an active region which includes a body region between a pair of source/drain regions. A charge-storage material is adjacent to the body region. A conductive gate is adjacent to the charge-storage material. A hole-recharge arrangement is configured to replenish holes within the body region during injection of holes from the body region to the charge-storage material. The hole-recharge arrangement includes a heterostructure active region having at least one source/drain region of a different composition than the body region, and/or includes an extension coupling the body region with a hole-reservoir. A wordline is coupled with the conductive gate. A first comparative digit line is coupled with one of the source/drain regions, and a second comparative digit line is coupled with the other of the source/drain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Albert Fayrushin, Haitao Liu, Kirk D. Prall
  • Publication number: 20200381044
    Abstract: The apparatuses and methods described herein may operate to measure a voltage difference between a selected access line and a selected sense line associated with a selected cell of a plurality of memory cells of a memory array. The voltage difference may be compared with a reference voltage specified for a memory operation. A selection voltage(s) applied to the selected cell for the memory operation may be adjusted responsive to the comparison, such as to dynamically compensate for parasitic voltage drop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Zengtao T. Liu, Kirk D. Prall
  • Publication number: 20200350323
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a select device and a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the select device. The capacitor includes two conductive capacitor electrodes having ferroelectric material there-between. The capacitor has an intrinsic current leakage path from one of the capacitor electrodes to the other through the ferroelectric material. There is a parallel current leakage path from the one capacitor electrode to the other. The parallel current leakage path is circuit-parallel the intrinsic path and of lower total resistance than the intrinsic path. Other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Qian Tao, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Haitao Liu, Kirk D. Prall, Ashonita Chavan
  • Patent number: 10741567
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a select device and a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the select device. The capacitor includes two conductive capacitor electrodes having ferroelectric material there-between. The capacitor has an intrinsic current leakage path from one of the capacitor electrodes to the other through the ferroelectric material. There is a parallel current leakage path from the one capacitor electrode to the other. The parallel current leakage path is circuit-parallel the intrinsic path and of lower total resistance than the intrinsic path. Other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Qian Tao, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Haitao Liu, Kirk D. Prall, Ashonita Chavan
  • Patent number: 10727336
    Abstract: A ferroelectric field effect transistor comprises a semiconductive channel comprising opposing sidewalls and an elevationally outermost top. A source/drain region is at opposite ends of the channel. A gate construction of the transistor comprises inner dielectric extending along the channel top and laterally along the channel sidewalk. Inner conductive material is elevationally and laterally outward of the inner dielectric and extends along the channel top and laterally along the channel sidewalk. Outer ferroelectric material is elevationally outward of the inner conductive material and extends along the channel top. Outer conductive material is elevationally outward of the outer ferroelectric material and extends along the channel. Other constructions and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Kirk D. Prall
  • Publication number: 20200220022
    Abstract: A device comprises an array comprising rows and columns of elevationally-extending transistors. An access line interconnects multiple of the elevationally-extending transistors along individual of the rows. The transistors individually comprise an upper source/drain region, a lower source/drain region, and a channel region extending elevationally there-between. The channel region comprises an oxide semiconductor. A transistor gate is operatively laterally-proximate the channel region and comprises a portion of an individual of the access lines. Intra-row-insulating material is longitudinally between immediately-intra-row-adjacent of the elevationally-extending transistors. Inter-row-insulating material is laterally between immediately-adjacent of the rows of the elevationally-extending transistors. At least one of the intra-row-insulating material and the inter-row-insulating material comprises void space. Other embodiments, including method embodiments, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi
  • Patent number: 10679696
    Abstract: The apparatuses and methods described herein may operate to measure a voltage difference between a selected access line and a selected sense line associated with a selected cell of a plurality of memory cells of a memory array. The voltage difference may be compared with a reference voltage specified for a memory operation. A selection voltage(s) applied to the selected cell for the memory operation may be adjusted responsive to the comparison, such as to dynamically compensate for parasitic voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zengtao T. Liu, Kirk D. Prall
  • Patent number: 10629732
    Abstract: A device comprises an array comprising rows and columns of elevationally-extending transistors. An access line interconnects multiple of the elevationally-extending transistors along individual of the rows. The transistors individually comprise an upper source/drain region, a lower source/drain region, and a channel region extending elevationally there-between. The channel region comprises an oxide semiconductor. A transistor gate is operatively laterally-proximate the channel region and comprises a portion of an individual of the access lines. Intra-row-insulating material is longitudinally between immediately-intra-row-adjacent of the elevationally-extending transistors. Inter-row-insulating material is laterally between immediately-adjacent of the rows of the elevationally-extending transistors. At least one of the intra-row-insulating material and the inter-row-insulating material comprises void space. Other embodiments, including method embodiments, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi
  • Publication number: 20200111918
    Abstract: A transistor comprising threshold voltage control gates. The transistor also comprises active control gates adjacent opposing first sides of a channel region, the threshold voltage control gates adjacent opposing second sides of the channel region, and a dielectric region between the threshold voltage control gates and the channel region and between the active control gates and the channel region. A semiconductor device comprising memory cells comprising the transistor is also disclosed, as are systems comprising the memory cells, methods of forming the semiconductor device, and methods of operating a semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Kirk D. Prall, Haitao Liu, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20200111915
    Abstract: A device comprises an array comprising rows and columns of elevationally-extending transistors. An access line interconnects multiple of the elevationally-extending transistors along individual of the rows. The transistors individually comprise an upper source/drain region, a lower source/drain region, and a channel region extending elevationally there-between. The channel region comprises an oxide semiconductor. A transistor gate is operatively laterally-proximate the channel region and comprises a portion of an individual of the access lines. Intra-row-insulating material is longitudinally between immediately-intra-row-adjacent of the elevationally-extending transistors. Inter-row-insulating material is laterally between immediately-adjacent of the rows of the elevationally-extending transistors. At least one of the intra-row-insulating material and the inter-row-insulating material comprises void space. Other embodiments, including method embodiments, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi
  • Publication number: 20190212919
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a hybrid memory device are described. The hybrid memory device may include volatile and non-volatile memory cells on a single substrate, or die. The non-volatile memory cells may have ferroelectric capacitors and the volatile memory cells may have paraelectric or linear dielectric capacitors for their respective logic storage components. In some examples, the volatile memory cells may be used as a cache for the non-volatile memory cells. Or the non-volatile memory cells may be used as a back-up for the volatile memory cells. By placing both types of cells on a single die, rather than separate dies, various performance metrics may be improved, including those related to power consumption and operation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ryan, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Robert Quinn
  • Publication number: 20190189626
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a select device and a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the select device. The capacitor includes two conductive capacitor electrodes having ferroelectric material there-between. The capacitor has an intrinsic current leakage path from one of the capacitor electrodes to the other through the ferroelectric material. There is a parallel current leakage path from the one capacitor electrode to the other. The parallel current leakage path is circuit-parallel the intrinsic path and of lower total resistance than the intrinsic path. Other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Qian Tao, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Haitao Liu, Kirk D. Prall, Ashonita Chavan
  • Patent number: 10282108
    Abstract: The hybrid memory device may include volatile and non-volatile memory cells on a single substrate, or die. The non-volatile memory cells may have ferroelectric capacitors and the volatile memory cells may have paraelectric or linear dielectric capacitors for their respective logic storage components. In some examples, the volatile memory cells may be used as a cache for the non-volatile memory cells. Or the non-volatile memory cells may be used as a back-up for the volatile memory cells. By placing both types of cells on a single die, rather than separate dies, various performance metrics may be improved, including those related to power consumption and operation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ryan, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Robert Quinn
  • Patent number: 10217753
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a select device and a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the select device. The capacitor includes two conductive capacitor electrodes having ferroelectric material there-between. The capacitor has an intrinsic current leakage path from one of the capacitor electrodes to the other through the ferroelectric material. There is a parallel current leakage path from the one capacitor electrode to the other. The parallel current leakage path is circuit-parallel the intrinsic path and of lower total resistance than the intrinsic path. Other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Qian Tao, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Haitao Liu, Kirk D. Prall, Ashonita Chavan
  • Publication number: 20180358472
    Abstract: A ferroelectric field effect transistor comprises a semiconductive channel comprising opposing sidewalls and an elevationally outermost top. A source/drain region is at opposite ends of the channel. A gate construction of the transistor comprises inner dielectric extending along the channel top and laterally along the channel sidewalk. Inner conductive material is elevationally and laterally outward of the inner dielectric and extends along the channel top and laterally along the channel sidewalk. Outer ferroelectric material is elevationally outward of the inner conductive material and extends along the channel top. Outer conductive material is elevationally outward of the outer ferroelectric material and extends along the channel. Other constructions and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Kirk D. Prall
  • Patent number: 10084084
    Abstract: A ferroelectric field effect transistor comprises a semiconductive channel comprising opposing sidewalls and an elevationally outermost top. A source/drain region is at opposite ends of the channel. A gate construction of the transistor comprises inner dielectric extending along the channel top and laterally along the channel sidewalls. Inner conductive material is elevationally and laterally outward of the inner dielectric and extends along the channel top and laterally along the channel sidewalls. Outer ferroelectric material is elevationally outward of the inner conductive material and extends along the channel top. Outer conductive material is elevationally outward of the outer ferroelectric material and extends along the channel. Other constructions and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Kirk D. Prall
  • Publication number: 20180145084
    Abstract: A memory cell includes a select device and a capacitor electrically coupled in series with the select device. The capacitor includes two conductive capacitor electrodes having ferroelectric material there-between. The capacitor has an intrinsic current leakage path from one of the capacitor electrodes to the other through the ferroelectric material. There is a parallel current leakage path from the one capacitor electrode to the other. The parallel current leakage path is circuit-parallel the intrinsic path and of lower total resistance than the intrinsic path. Other aspects are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Qian Tao, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Haitao Liu, Kirk D. Prall, Ashonita Chavan
  • Publication number: 20180122917
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a semiconductor construction having a gate extending into a semiconductor base. Conductively-doped source and drain regions are within the base adjacent the gate. A gate dielectric has a first segment between the source region and the gate, a second segment between the drain region and the gate, and a third segment between the first and second segments. At least a portion of the gate dielectric comprises ferroelectric material. In some embodiments the ferroelectric material is within each of the first, second and third segments. In some embodiments, the ferroelectric material is within the first segment or the third segment. In some embodiments, a transistor has a gate, a source region and a drain region; and has a channel region between the source and drain regions. The transistor has a gate dielectric which contains ferroelectric material between the source region and the gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Durai Vishak Ramaswamy, Kirk D. Prall, Wayne Kinney
  • Publication number: 20180059958
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for a hybrid memory device are described. The hybrid memory device may include volatile and non-volatile memory cells on a single substrate, or die. The non-volatile memory cells may have ferroelectric capacitors and the volatile memory cells may have paraelectric or linear dielectric capacitors for their respective logic storage components. In some examples, the volatile memory cells may be used as a cache for the non-volatile memory cells. Or the non-volatile memory cells may be used as a back-up for the volatile memory cells. By placing both types of cells on a single die, rather than separate dies, various performance metrics may be improved, including those related to power consumption and operation speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Publication date: March 1, 2018
    Inventors: Kevin J. Ryan, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Robert Quinn