Patents by Inventor Luan C. Tran
Luan C. Tran 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).
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Publication number: 20200176471Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a first opening extending through a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. A nitride structure is within the first opening and narrows the first opening to form a second opening. Detectable oxide is between the nitride structure and one or more of the conductive levels. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. A first opening extends through the vertically-stacked levels to the conductive material and has opposing sidewalls along a cross-section. Nitride liners are along the sidewalls of the first opening. Detectable oxide is between at least one of the nitride liners and one or more of the vertically-stacked conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: June 4, 2020Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jie Li, James Mathew, Kunal Shrotri, Luan C. Tran, Gordon A. Haller, Yangda Zhang, Hongpeng Yu, Minsoo Lee
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Publication number: 20200152658Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a stack of alternating first and second levels. Channel material pillars extend through the stack, and vertically-stacked memory cell strings are along the channel material pillars. A common source is under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars. The common source has conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide, with the conductive protective material being a composition other than metal silicide. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating integrated structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: John M. Meldrim, Yushi Hu, Rita J. Klein, John D. Hopkins, Hongbin Zhu, Gordon A. Haller, Luan C. Tran
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Publication number: 20200135748Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a source material, a dielectric material over the source material, a select gate material over the dielectric material, a memory cell stack over the select gate material, a conductive plug located in an opening of the dielectric material and contacting a portion of the source material, and a channel material extending through the memory cell stack and the select gate material and contacting the conductive plug.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Krishna K. Parat, Luan C. Tran, Meng-Wei Kuo, Yushi Hu
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Publication number: 20200090929Abstract: Embodiments of a method for device fabrication by reverse pitch reduction flow include forming a first pattern of features above a substrate and forming a second pattern of pitch-multiplied spacers subsequent to forming the first pattern of features. In embodiments of the invention the first pattern of features may be formed by photolithography and the second pattern of pitch-multiplied spacers may be formed by pitch multiplication. Other methods for device fabrication are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Raghupathy Giridhar
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Patent number: 10580792Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a first opening extending through a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. A nitride structure is within the first opening and narrows the first opening to form a second opening. Detectable oxide is between the nitride structure and one or more of the conductive levels. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. A first opening extends through the vertically-stacked levels to the conductive material and has opposing sidewalls along a cross-section. Nitride liners are along the sidewalls of the first opening. Detectable oxide is between at least one of the nitride liners and one or more of the vertically-stacked conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated structures.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jie Li, James Mathew, Kunal Shrotri, Luan C. Tran, Gordon A. Haller, Yangda Zhang, Hongpeng Yu, Minsoo Lee
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Patent number: 10553611Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a stack of alternating first and second levels. Channel material pillars extend through the stack, and vertically-stacked memory cell strings are along the channel material pillars. A common source is under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars. The common source has conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide, with the conductive protective material being a composition other than metal silicide. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating integrated structures.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: John M. Meldrim, Yushi Hu, Rita J. Klein, John D. Hopkins, Hongbin Zhu, Gordon A. Haller, Luan C. Tran
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Patent number: 10522348Abstract: Embodiments of a method for device fabrication by reverse pitch reduction flow include forming a first pattern of features above a substrate and forming a second pattern of pitch-multiplied spacers subsequent to forming the first pattern of features. In embodiments of the invention the first pattern of features may be formed by photolithography and the second pattern of pitch-multiplied spacers may be formed by pitch multiplication. Other methods for device fabrication are provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2019Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Raghupathy Giridhar
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Patent number: 10515972Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having a source material, a dielectric material over the source material, a select gate material over the dielectric material, a memory cell stack over the select gate material, a conductive plug located in an opening of the dielectric material and contacting a portion of the source material, and a channel material extending through the memory cell stack and the select gate material and contacting the conductive plug.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege, Krishna K. Parat, Luan C. Tran, Meng-Wei Kuo, Yushi Hu
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Patent number: 10497611Abstract: Different portions of a continuous loop of semiconductor material are electrically isolated from one another. In some embodiments, the end of the loop is electrically isolated from mid-portions of the loop. In some embodiments, loops of semiconductor material, having two legs connected together at their ends, are formed by a pitch multiplication process in which loops of spacers are formed on sidewalls of mandrels. The mandrels are removed and a block of masking material is overlaid on at least one end of the spacer loops. In some embodiments, the blocks of masking material overlay each end of the spacer loops. The pattern defined by the spacers and the blocks are transferred to a layer of semiconductor material. The blocks electrically connect together all the loops. A select gate is formed along each leg of the loops. The blocks serve as sources/drains.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Luan C. Tran
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Patent number: 10438968Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a stack of alternating first and second levels. Channel material pillars extend through the stack, and vertically-stacked memory cell strings are along the channel material pillars. A common source is under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars. The common source has conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide, with the conductive protective material being a composition other than metal silicide. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating integrated structures.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: John M. Meldrin, Yushi Hu, Rita J. Klein, John D. Hopkins, Hongbin Zhu, Gordon A. Haller, Luan C. Tran
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Publication number: 20190280007Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a stack of alternating first and second levels. Channel material pillars extend through the stack, and vertically-stacked memory cell strings are along the channel material pillars. A common source is under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars. The common source has conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide, with the conductive protective material being a composition other than metal silicide. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating integrated structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2019Publication date: September 12, 2019Inventors: John M. Meldrim, Yushi Hu, Rita J. Klein, John D. Hopkins, Hongbin Zhu, Gordon A. Haller, Luan C. Tran
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Publication number: 20190267394Abstract: A transistor comprises channel material having first and second opposing sides. A gate is on the first side of the channel material and a gate insulator is between the gate and the channel material. A first insulating material has first and second opposing sides, with the first side being adjacent the second side of the channel material. A second insulating material of different composition from that of the first insulating material is adjacent the second side of the first insulating material. The second insulating material has at least one of (a), (b), and (c), where, (a): lower oxygen diffusivity than the first material, (b): net positive charge, and (c): at least two times greater shear strength than the first material. In some embodiments, an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises such transistors. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2019Publication date: August 29, 2019Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: David H. Wells, Luan C. Tran, Jie Li, Anish A. Khandekar, Kunal Shrotri
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Publication number: 20190198516Abstract: The present disclosure includes memory having a continuous channel, and methods of processing the same. A number of embodiments include forming a vertical stack having memory cells connected in series between a source select gate and a drain select gate, wherein forming the vertical stack includes forming a continuous channel for the source select gate, the memory cells, and the drain select gate, and removing a portion of the continuous channel for the drain select gate such that the continuous channel is thinner for the drain select gate than for the memory cells and the source select gate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2019Publication date: June 27, 2019Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Hongbin Zhu, John D. Hopkins, Yushi Hu
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Patent number: 10297611Abstract: A transistor comprises channel material having first and second opposing sides. A gate is on the first side of the channel material and a gate insulator is between the gate and the channel material. A first insulating material has first and second opposing sides, with the first side being adjacent the second side of the channel material. A second insulating material of different composition from that of the first insulating material is adjacent the second side of the first insulating material. The second insulating material has at least one of (a), (b), and (c), where, (a): lower oxygen diffusivity than the first material, (b): net positive charge, and (c): at least two times greater shear strength than the first material. In some embodiments, an array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells comprises such transistors. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2018Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: David H. Wells, Luan C. Tran, Jie Li, Anish A. Khandekar, Kunal Shrotri
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Publication number: 20190148135Abstract: Embodiments of a method for device fabrication by reverse pitch reduction flow include forming a first pattern of features above a substrate and forming a second pattern of pitch-multiplied spacers subsequent to forming the first pattern of features. In embodiments of the invention the first pattern of features may be formed by photolithography and the second pattern of pitch-multiplied spacers may be formed by pitch multiplication. Other methods for device fabrication are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2019Publication date: May 16, 2019Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Raghupathy Giridhar
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Patent number: 10242995Abstract: Some embodiments include a string of charge storage devices formed along a vertical channel of semiconductor material; a gate region of a drain select gate (SGD) transistor, the gate region at least partially surrounding the vertical channel; a dielectric barrier formed in the gate region; a first isolation layer formed above the gate region and the dielectric barrier; a drain region of the SGD transistor formed above the vertical channel; and a second isolation layer formed above the first isolation layer and the drain region, wherein the second isolation layer includes a conductive contact in electrical contact with the drain region of the SGD transistor. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Hongbin Zhu, Lijing Gou, Gordon Haller, Luan C. Tran
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Patent number: 10224337Abstract: The present disclosure includes memory having a continuous channel, and methods of processing the same. A number of embodiments include forming a vertical stack having memory cells connected in series between a source select gate and a drain select gate, wherein forming the vertical stack includes forming a continuous channel for the source select gate, the memory cells, and the drain select gate, and removing a portion of the continuous channel for the drain select gate such that the continuous channel is thinner for the drain select gate than for the memory cells and the source select gate.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2017Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Hongbin Zhu, John D. Hopkins, Yushi Hu
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Publication number: 20180358378Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a first opening extending through a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. A nitride structure is within the first opening and narrows the first opening to form a second opening. Detectable oxide is between the nitride structure and one or more of the conductive levels. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. A first opening extends through the vertically-stacked levels to the conductive material and has opposing sidewalls along a cross-section. Nitride liners are along the sidewalls of the first opening. Detectable oxide is between at least one of the nitride liners and one or more of the vertically-stacked conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jie Li, James Mathew, Kunal Shrotri, Luan C. Tran, Gordon A. Haller, Yangda Zhang, Hongpeng Yu, Minsoo Lee
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Patent number: 10083984Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a first opening extending through a stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. A nitride structure is within the first opening and narrows the first opening to form a second opening. Detectable oxide is between the nitride structure and one or more of the conductive levels. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a conductive material, a select device gate material over the conductive material, and vertically-stacked conductive levels over the select device gate material. A first opening extends through the vertically-stacked levels to the conductive material and has opposing sidewalls along a cross-section. Nitride liners are along the sidewalls of the first opening. Detectable oxide is between at least one of the nitride liners and one or more of the vertically-stacked conductive levels. Some embodiments include methods for forming integrated structures.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2017Date of Patent: September 25, 2018Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Jie Li, James Mathew, Kunal Shrotri, Luan C. Tran, Gordon A. Haller, Yangda Zhang, Hongpeng Yu, Minsoo Lee
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Publication number: 20180211868Abstract: Different portions of a continuous loop of semiconductor material are electrically isolated from one another. In some embodiments, the end of the loop is electrically isolated from mid-portions of the loop. In some embodiments, loops of semiconductor material, having two legs connected together at their ends, are formed by a pitch multiplication process in which loops of spacers are formed on sidewalls of mandrels. The mandrels are removed and a block of masking material is overlaid on at least one end of the spacer loops. In some embodiments, the blocks of masking material overlay each end of the spacer loops. The pattern defined by the spacers and the blocks are transferred to a layer of semiconductor material. The blocks electrically connect together all the loops. A select gate is formed along each leg of the loops. The blocks serve as sources/drains.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Luan C. Tran