Patents by Inventor Kyle K. Kirby

Kyle K. Kirby 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: 11973062
    Abstract: A semiconductor device assembly can include a first semiconductor device and an interposer. The interposer can include a substrate and through vias in which individual vias include an exposed portion and an embedded portion, the exposed portions projecting from one or both of the first surface and the second surface of the substrate, and the embedded portions extending through at least a portion of the substrate. The interposer can include one or more test pads, a first electrical contact, and a second electrical contact. The semiconductor device assembly can include a controller positioned on an opposite side of the interposer from the first semiconductor device and operably coupled to the interposer via connection to the second electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Owen R. Fay, Kyle K. Kirby, Akshay N. Singh
  • Publication number: 20240136295
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a semiconductor device having a front-end-of-line interconnect structure are provided. The semiconductor device may include a dielectric material having a backside formed on a front side of a semiconductor or silicon substrate material and a front side, and a conducting material on the front side of the dielectric material. The conducting material may have a line portion and an interconnect structure electrically coupled to the line portion and separated from the front side of the substrate material by the dielectric material. The interconnect structure has a backside defining a contact surface. The semiconductor device may further include a semiconductor die proximate the front side of the dielectric material, an insulating material encasing at least a portion of the semiconductor die, and an opening through which the active contact surface at the backside of the interconnect structure is exposed for electrical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Kunal R. Parekh
  • Patent number: 11942444
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices having interconnect structures with vertically offset bonding surfaces, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate at least partially covered by a first dielectric material having an upper surface, and an interconnect structure extending therefrom. The interconnect structure can include a plurality of conductive elements, and a continuous region of a first insulating material at least partially between the plurality of conductive elements. The plurality of conductive elements and the continuous region can have coplanar end surfaces. The interconnect structure can further include a perimeter structure at least partially surrounding the plurality of conductive elements and the continuous region. The perimeter structure can have an uppermost surface that can be vertically offset from the upper surface of the first dielectric material and/or the coplanar end surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle K. Kirby
  • Patent number: 11942428
    Abstract: A semiconductor device including a substrate is provided. The device further includes a through-substrate via (TSV) extending into the substrate, and a substantially helical conductor disposed around the TSV. The substantially helical conductor can be configured to generate a magnetic field in the TSV in response to a current passing through the helical conductor. More than one TSV can be included, and/or more than one substantially helical conductor can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle K. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20240087987
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a semiconductor device having a front-end-of-line structure are provided. The semiconductor device may include a dielectric material having a backside formed on a front side of a semiconductor substrate material and a front side, and an interconnect structure extending through the dielectric material. The interconnect structure may be electrically connected to a semiconductor memory array proximate the front side of the dielectric material. The semiconductor device may further have an insulating material encasing at least a portion of the semiconductor memory array and an opening created during back-end-of-line processing through which the active contact surface at the backside of the interconnect structure is exposed for electrical connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Kunal R. Parekh
  • Publication number: 20240079369
    Abstract: This document discloses techniques, apparatuses, and systems for connecting semiconductor dies through traces. A semiconductor assembly is described that includes two semiconductor dies. The first semiconductor die includes a first dielectric layer at which first circuitry is disposed. The second semiconductor die includes a second dielectric layer at which second circuitry is disposed. One or more traces extend from a side surface of the first dielectric layer and at a side surface of the second dielectric layer to electrically couple the first circuitry and the second circuitry. In doing so, rigid connective structures may not be needed to couple the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Terrence B. McDaniel, Bret K. Street, Wei Zhou, Kyle K. Kirby, Amy R. Griffin, Thiagarajan Raman, Jaekyu Song
  • Publication number: 20240072004
    Abstract: A semiconductor assembly is described that includes two semiconductor dies. The first semiconductor die includes a first layer of dielectric material at which a first portion of conductive material implementing a first portion of a passive circuit component is at least partially disposed. The second semiconductor die includes a second layer of dielectric material at which a second portion of conductive material implementing a second portion of the passive circuit component is at least partially disposed. A first contact pad at the first layer of dielectric material and a second contact pad at a second layer of dielectric material are coupled to create an interconnect electrically coupling the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die. A metal-metal bond is formed between the first portion of the passive circuit component and the second portion of the passive circuit component to create the passive circuit component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Kunal R. Parekh
  • Publication number: 20240071987
    Abstract: A semiconductor die is provided, comprising a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate, a bond pad in the dielectric layer, the bond pad including an exposed top surface that is recessed with respect to a surface of the dielectric layer opposite to the semiconductor substrate, and a region including a plurality of embedded nanoparticles in the dielectric layer, wherein the region is located proximate to the bond pad to supply thermal energy to the bond pad in response to exposing the plurality of embedded nanoparticles to an externally-applied field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Bang-Ning Hsu, Kyle K. Kirby, Byung Hoon Moon
  • Publication number: 20240071969
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices and semiconductor device assemblies, and related systems and methods, are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device includes a support substrate, a first die package carried by the support substrate, and a second die package carried by the first die package. Each of the first and second die packages can include a first die, a second die hybrid bonded a surface of the first die, and a third die hybrid bonded to a surface of the second die. The first die is coupled to the third die via an interconnect portion of the second die. Further, the third die can include an array of active cells for each of the packages, the second die can include complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) circuitry accessing the active cells, and the first die can include backend of line (BEOL) circuitry associated with the active cells and CMOS circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Bret K. Street, Bang-Ning Hsu
  • Publication number: 20240071970
    Abstract: A semiconductor device assembly is described that includes two semiconductor dies. The semiconductor dies each include a layer of dielectric material and a reservoir of conductive material located adjacent to openings in the layer of dielectric material. The opening at the layer of dielectric material of the first semiconductor die and the opening at the layer of dielectric material of the second semiconductor die are aligned to create an interconnect opening. The reservoirs of conductive material are heated to volumetrically expand the reservoirs of conductive material past one another such that they contact at respective non-horizontal surfaces to form an interconnect electrically coupling the semiconductor dies. In this way, a connected semiconductor device may be assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventor: Kyle K. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20240071989
    Abstract: This document discloses techniques, apparatuses, and systems for semiconductor device circuitry formed from remote reservoirs. A semiconductor assembly includes a first semiconductor die with a layer of dielectric material having an opening. The first semiconductor die further includes a reservoir of conductive material having a first portion located adjacent to the opening, a second portion remote from the opening, and a third portion coupling the first portion and the second portion. A second semiconductor die includes a layer of dielectric material and a contact pad corresponding to the opening. The reservoir of conductive material is heated to volumetrically expand the second portion into the third portion, the third portion into the first portion, and the first portion through the opening to form an interconnect electrically coupling the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die at the contact pad. In this way, a connected semiconductor device may be assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Terrence B. McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20240071823
    Abstract: A semiconductor assembly is described that includes a semiconductor die having first circuitry. The semiconductor die further includes second circuitry with a reservoir of conductive material and an interlayer dielectric having one or more openings between the first circuitry and the reservoir of conductive material. The reservoir of conductive material is heated effective to cause the reservoir of conductive material to volumetrically expand through the one or more openings to create one or more vias that electrically couples the first circuitry and the reservoir of conductive material. In doing so, a connected semiconductor device may be assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Terrence B. McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20240071968
    Abstract: This document discloses techniques, apparatuses, and systems for semiconductor device interconnects formed through volumetric expansion. A semiconductor assembly is described that includes two semiconductor dies. The first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die are bonded at a dielectric layer of the first semiconductor die and a dielectric layer of the second semiconductor die to create one or more interconnect openings. The first semiconductor die includes a reservoir of conductive material located adjacent to the one or more interconnect openings and having a width greater than a width of the one or more interconnect openings. The reservoir of conductive material is heated to volumetrically expand the reservoir of conductive material through the one or more interconnect openings to form one or more interconnects electrically coupling the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die. In this way, a connected semiconductor device may be assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Terrence B. McDaniel, Wei Zhou
  • Publication number: 20240071986
    Abstract: A semiconductor die is provided, comprising a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer over the semiconductor substrate; a bond pad in the dielectric layer, the bond pad including an exposed top surface that is recessed with respect to a surface of the dielectric layer opposite to the semiconductor substrate; and a region of piezoelectric material in the dielectric layer, wherein the region is located proximate to the bond pad to supply thermal energy to the bond pad in response to exposing the piezoelectric material to an externally-applied field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Byung Hoon Moon, Kyle K. Kirby
  • Publication number: 20240063207
    Abstract: Methods of making a semiconductor device assembly are provided. The methods can comprise providing a first semiconductor device having a first dielectric material at a first surface, providing a carrier wafer having a second dielectric material at a second surface, and forming a dielectric-dielectric bond between the first dielectric material and the second dielectric material. At least one of the first surface and the second surface includes a cavity configured to entrap a gas during the formation of the bond. The method can further include stacking one or more second semiconductor devices over the first semiconductor device to form the semiconductor device assembly, and removing the semiconductor device assembly from the carrier wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Bret K. Street, Terrence B. McDaniel, Amy R. Griffin, Kyle K. Kirby, Thiagarajan Raman
  • Publication number: 20240055400
    Abstract: This document discloses techniques, apparatuses, and systems for providing a semiconductor device assembly with a substrate for vertically assembled semiconductor dies. A semiconductor assembly is described that includes a semiconductor die coupled to a substrate such that an active surface of the semiconductor die is substantially orthogonal to a top surface of the substrate. The substrate includes a surface having a recessed slot at which a side surface of the semiconductor die couples. The semiconductor die includes a contact pad that couples to a contact pad at the recessed slot. In doing so, the techniques, apparatuses, and systems herein enable a robust and cost-efficient semiconductor device to be assembled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2022
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Kunal R. Parekh, Bret K. Street, Kyle K. Kirby, Wei Zhou, Thiagarajan Raman
  • Patent number: 11862569
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a semiconductor device having a front-end-of-line interconnect structure are provided. The semiconductor device may include a dielectric material having a backside formed on a front side of a semiconductor or silicon substrate material and a front side, and a conducting material on the front side of the dielectric material. The conducting material may have a line portion and an interconnect structure electrically coupled to the line portion and separated from the front side of the substrate material by the dielectric material. The interconnect structure has a backside defining a contact surface. The semiconductor device may further include a semiconductor die proximate the front side of the dielectric material, an insulating material encasing at least a portion of the semiconductor die, and an opening through which the active contact surface at the backside of the interconnect structure is exposed for electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Kunal R. Parekh
  • Publication number: 20230395516
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory stack connected to a processing unit, and associated methods and systems are disclosed. In some embodiments, the semiconductor memory stack may include one or more memory dies attached to and carried by a memory controller die—e.g., high-bandwidth memory. Further, a processing unit (e.g., a processor) may be attached to the memory controller die without an interposer to provide the shortest possible route for signals traveling between the semiconductor memory stack and the processing unit. In addition, the semiconductor memory stack and the processing unit can be attached to a package substrate without an interposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventor: Kyle K. Kirby
  • Patent number: 11823977
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a plurality of circuit elements on a front side of the substrate, and a first substantially spiral-shaped conductor on a back side of the substrate is provided. The device further includes a first through-substrate via (TSV) electrically connecting a first end of the substantially spiral-shaped conductor to a first one of the plurality of circuit elements, and a second TSV electrically connecting a second end of the substantially spiral-shaped conductor to a second one of the plurality of circuit elements. The device may be a package further including a second die having a front side on which is disposed a second substantially spiral-shaped conductor. The front side of the second die is disposed facing the back side of the substrate, such that the first and second substantially spiral-shaped conductors are configured to wirelessly communicate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Kyle K. Kirby
  • Patent number: 11817305
    Abstract: Systems and methods for a semiconductor device having a front-end-of-line structure are provided. The semiconductor device may include a dielectric material having a backside formed on a front side of a semiconductor substrate material and a front side, and an interconnect structure extending through the dielectric material. The interconnect structure may be electrically connected to a semiconductor memory array proximate the front side of the dielectric material. The semiconductor device may further have an insulating material encasing at least a portion of the semiconductor memory array and an opening created during back-end-of-line processing through which the active contact surface at the backside of the interconnect structure is exposed for electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle K. Kirby, Kunal R. Parekh