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).

  • Patent number: 7157775
    Abstract: The invention includes a semiconductor construction having a pair of channel regions that have sub-regions doped with indium and surrounded by boron. A pair of transistor constructions are located over the channel regions and are separated by an isolation region. The transistors have gates that are wider than the underlying subregions. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction that has transistor constructions with insulative spacers along gate sidewalls. Each transistor construction is between a pair source/drain regions that extend beneath the spacers. A source/drain extension extends the source/drain region farther beneath the transistor constructions on only one side of each of the transistor constructions. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7153778
    Abstract: A patterned mask can be formed as follows. A first patterned photoresist is formed over a masking layer and utilized during a first etch into the masking layer. The first etch extends to a depth in the masking layer that is less than entirely through the masking layer. A second patterned photoresist is subsequently formed over the masking layer and utilized during a second etch into the masking layer. The combined first and second etches form openings extending entirely through the masking layer and thus form the masking layer into the patterned mask. The patterned mask can be utilized to form a pattern in a substrate underlying the mask. The pattern formed in the substrate can correspond to an array of capacitor container openings. Capacitor structure can be formed within the openings. The capacitor structures can be incorporated within a DRAM array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett W. Busch, Luan C. Tran, Ardavan Niroomand, Fred D. Fishburn, Yoshiki Hishiro, Ulrich C. Boettiger, Richard D. Holscher
  • Patent number: 7135401
    Abstract: The invention includes methods for forming electrical connections associated with semiconductor constructions. A semiconductor substrate is provided which has a conductive line thereover, and which has at least two diffusion regions adjacent the conductive line. A patterned etch stop is formed over the diffusion regions. The patterned etch stop has a pair of openings extending through it, with the openings being along a row substantially parallel to an axis of the line. An insulative material is formed over the etch stop. The insulative material is exposed to an etch to form a trench within the insulative material, and to extend the openings from the etch stop to the diffusion regions. At least a portion of the trench is directly over the openings and extends along the axis of the line. An electrically conductive material is formed within the openings and within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Fred D. Fishburn
  • Patent number: 7135363
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods of forming integrated circuitry are described. In one embodiment, memory circuitry and peripheral circuitry are formed over a substrate. The peripheral circuitry comprises first and second type MOS transistors. Second type halo implants are conducted into the first MOS transistors in less than all of the peripheral MOS transistors of the first type. In another embodiment, a plurality of n-type transistor devices are formed over a substrate and comprise memory array circuitry and peripheral circuitry. A least some of the individual peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices are partially masked, and a halo implant is conducted for unmasked portions of the partially masked peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices. In yet another embodiment, at least a portion of only one of the source and drain regions is masked, and at least a portion of the other of the source and drains regions is exposed for at least some of the peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7105402
    Abstract: The invention includes a DRAM array having a structure therein which includes a first material separated from a second material by an intervening insulative material. The first material is doped to at least 1×1017 atoms/cm3 with n-type and p-type dopant. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction in which a doped material is over a segment of a substrate. The doped material has a first type majority dopant therein, and is electrically connected with an electrical ground. A pair of conductively-doped diffusion regions are adjacent the segment, and spaced from one another by at least a portion of the segment. The conductively-doped diffusion regions have a second type majority dopant therein. The invention also encompasses methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark McQueen, Luan C. Tran, Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 7091113
    Abstract: The invention includes a semiconductor construction having a pair of channel regions that have sub-regions doped with indium and surrounded by boron. A pair of transistor constructions are located over the channel regions and are separated by an isolation region. The transistors have gates that are wider than the underlying sub-regions. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction that has transistor constructions with insulative spacers along gate sidewalls. Each transistor construction is between a pair source/drain regions that extend beneath the spacers. A source/drain extension extends the source/drain region farther beneath the transistor constructions on only one side of each of the transistor constructions. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7087478
    Abstract: The invention includes a semiconductor construction having a pair of channel regions that have sub-regions doped with indium and surrounded by boron. A pair of transistor constructions are located over the channel regions and are separated by an isolation region. The transistors have gates that are wider than the underlying sub-regions. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction that has transistor constructions with insulative spacers along gate sidewalls. Each transistor construction is between a pair source/drain regions that extend beneath the spacers. A source/drain extension extends the source/drain region farther beneath the transistor constructions on only one side of each of the transistor constructions. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7057257
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods of forming transistors, semiconductor processing methods of forming dynamic random access memory circuitry, and related integrated circuitry are described. In one embodiment, active areas are formed over a substrate, with one of the active areas having a width of less than one micron, and with some of the active areas having different widths. A gate line is formed over the active areas to provide transistors having different threshold voltages. Preferably, the transistors are provided with different threshold voltages without using a separate channel implant for the transistors. In another embodiment, a plurality of shallow trench isolation regions are formed within a substrate and define a plurality of active areas having widths at least some of which being no greater than about one micron (or less), with some of the widths preferably being different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7045449
    Abstract: The invention includes a semiconductor construction having a pair of channel regions that have sub-regions doped with indium and surrounded by boron. A pair of transistor constructions are located over the channel regions and are separated by an isolation region. The transistors have gates that are wider than the underlying sub-regions. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction that has transistor constructions with insulative spacers along gate sidewalls. Each transistor construction is between a pair source/drain regions that extend beneath the spacers. A source/drain extension extends the source/drain region farther beneath the transistor constructions on only one side of each of the transistor constructions. The invention also includes methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7045405
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods of forming integrated circuitry are described. In one embodiment, memory circuitry and peripheral circuitry are formed over a substrate. The peripheral circuitry comprises first and second type MOS transistors. Second type halo implants are conducted into the first type MOS transistors in less than all of the peripheral MOS transistors of the first type. In another embodiment, a plurality of n-type transistor devices are formed over a substrate and comprise memory array circuitry and peripheral circuitry. At least some of the individual peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices are partially masked, and a halo implant is conducted for unmasked portions of the partially masked peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices. In yet another embodiment, at least a portion of only one of the source and drain regions is masked, and at least a portion of the other of the source and drains regions is exposed for at least some of the peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7020039
    Abstract: A memory device includes isolation devices located between memory cells. A plurality of isolation lines connects the isolation devices to a positive voltage during normal operations but still keeps the isolation devices in the off state to provide isolation between the memory cells. A current control circuit is placed between the isolation lines and a power node for reducing a current flowing between the isolation lines and the power node in case a deflect occurs at any one of isolation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Luan C. Tran, Stephen R. Porter, Scot M. Graham, Steven E. Howell
  • Patent number: 6995059
    Abstract: Methods of forming capacitors, methods of forming capacitor-over-bit line memory circuitry, and related integrated circuitry constructions are described. In one embodiment, a capacitor storage node is formed having an uppermost surface and an overlying insulative material over the uppermost surface. Subsequently, a capacitor dielectric functioning region is formed discrete from the overlying insulative material operably proximate at least a portion of the capacitor storage node. A cell electrode layer is formed over the capacitor dielectric functioning region and the overlying insulative material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler A. Lowrey, Luan C. Tran, Alan R. Reinberg, Mark Durcan
  • Patent number: 6977421
    Abstract: The invention includes a DRAM array having a structure therein which includes a first material separated from a second material by an intervening insulative material. The first material is doped to at least 1×1017 atoms/cm3 with n-type and p-type dopant. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction in which a doped material is over a segment of a substrate. The doped material has a first type majority dopant therein, and is electrically connected with an electrical ground. A pair of conductively-doped diffusion regions are adjacent the segment, and spaced from one another by at least a portion of the segment. The conductively-doped diffusion regions have a second type majority dopant therein. The invention also encompasses methods of forming semiconductor constructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark McQueen, Luan C. Tran, Chandra Mouli
  • Patent number: 6964910
    Abstract: Methods of forming conductive capacitor plugs, methods of forming capacitor contact openings, and methods of forming memory arrays are described. In one embodiment, a conductive capacitor plug is formed to extend from proximate a substrate node location to a location elevationally above all conductive material of an adjacent bit line. In another embodiment, a capacitor contact opening is etched through a first insulative material received over a bit line and a word line substantially selective relative to a second insulative material covering portions of the bit line and the word line. The opening is etched to a substrate location proximate the word line in a self-aligning manner relative to both the bit line and the word line. In another embodiment, capacitor contact openings are formed to elevationally below the bit lines after the bit lines are formed. In a preferred embodiment, capacitor-over-bit line memory arrays are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 6946353
    Abstract: A method for adjusting Vt while minimizing parasitic capacitance for low voltage high speed semiconductor devices. The method uses shadow effects and an angled punch through prevention implant between vertical structures to provide a graded implant. The implant angle is greater than or equal to arc tangent of S/H where S is the horizontal distance between, and H is the height of, such vertical structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 6914287
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods of forming transistors, semiconductor processing methods of forming dynamic random access memory circuitry, and related integrated circuitry are described. In one embodiment, active areas are formed over a substrate, with one of the active areas having a width of less than one micron, and with some of the active areas having different widths. A gate line is formed over the active areas to provide transistors having different threshold voltages. In one embodiment, the transistors are provided with different threshold voltages without using a separate channel implant for the transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 6894915
    Abstract: Structures, systems and methods for memory cells utilizing trench bit lines formed within a buried layer are provided. A memory cell is formed in a triple well structure that includes a substrate, the buried layer, and an epitaxial layer. The substrate, buried layer, and epitaxial layer include voltage contacts that allow for the wells to be biased to a de voltage level. The memory cell includes a transistor which is formed on the epitaxial layer, the transistor including a source and drain region separated by a channel region. The trench bit line is formed within the buried layer, and is coupled to the drain region of the transistor by a bit contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 6890843
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention encompasses a method of forming a semiconductor structure. A patterned line is formed to comprise a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises silicon and the second layer comprises a metal. The line has at least one sidewall edge comprising a first-layer-defined portion and a second-layer-defined portion. A third layer is formed along the at least one sidewall edge. The third layer comprises silicon and is along both the first-layered-defined portion of the sidewall edge and the second-layered-defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is reacted with the metal of the second layer to form a silicide along the second-layer-defined portion of the sidewall edge. The silicon of the third layer is removed to leave the silicon of the first layer, the metal of the second layer, and the silicide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Kie Y. Ahn, Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 6875646
    Abstract: Semiconductor processing methods of forming integrated circuitry are described. In one embodiment, memory circuitry and peripheral circuitry are formed over a substrate. The peripheral circuitry comprises first and second type MOS transistors. Second type halo implants are conducted into the first type MOS transistors in less than all of the peripheral MOS transistors of the first type. In another embodiment, a plurality of n-type transistor devices are formed over a substrate and comprise memory array circuitry and peripheral circuitry. At least some of the individual peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices are partially masked, and a halo implant is conducted for unmasked portions of the partially masked peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices. In yet another embodiment, at least a portion of only one of the source and drain regions is masked, and at least a portion of the other of the source and drains regions is exposed for at least some of the peripheral circuitry n-type transistor devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 6844591
    Abstract: Self-aligned recessed gate structures and method of formation are disclosed. Field oxide areas for isolation are first formed in a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of columns are defined in an insulating layer formed over the semiconductor substrate subsequent to which a thin sacrificial oxide layer is formed over exposed regions of the semiconductor substrate but not over the field oxide areas. A dielectric material is then provided on sidewalls of each column and over portions of the sacrificial oxide layer and of the field oxide areas. A first etch is conducted to form a first set of trenches within the semiconductor substrate and a plurality of recesses within the field oxide areas. A second etch is conducted to remove dielectric residue remaining on the sidewalls of the columns and to form a second set of trenches. Polysilicon is then deposited within the second set of trenches and within the recesses to form recessed conductive gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Luan C. Tran