Patents by Inventor Mark Meldrim

Mark Meldrim 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: 10957775
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and control gate levels. Channel material extends vertically along the stack. The control gate levels comprising conductive regions. The conductive regions include at least three different materials. Charge-storage regions are adjacent the control gate levels. Charge-blocking regions are between the charge-storage regions and the conductive regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, Rita J. Klein, Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, Brenda D. Kraus, Everett A. McTeer
  • Patent number: 10943921
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated structure. An assembly is formed to include a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels have insulative material, and the second levels have voids which extend horizontally. The assembly includes channel material structures extending through the stack. A first metal-containing material is deposited within the voids to partially fill the voids. The deposited first metal-containing material is etched to remove some of the first metal-containing material from within the partially-filled voids. Second metal-containing material is then deposited to fill the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Chet E. Carter, Collin Howder, John Mark Meldrim, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20210066332
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method in which an assembly is formed to have voids within a stack, and to have slits adjacent the voids. Peripheral boundaries of the voids have proximal regions near the slits and distal regions adjacent the proximal regions. A material is deposited within the voids under conditions which cause the material to form to a greater thickness along the distal regions than along the proximal regions. Some embodiments include an assembly having a stack of alternating first and second levels. The second levels include conductive material. Panel structures extend through the stack. The conductive material within the second levels has outer edges with proximal regions near the panel structures and distal regions adjacent the proximal regions. Interface material is along the outer edges of the conductive material and has a different composition along the proximal regions than along the distal regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, Everett A. McTeer
  • Patent number: 10916564
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly which has channel material pillars, and which has memory cells along the channel material pillars. A conductive structure is under the channel material pillars. The conductive structure has doped semiconductor material in direct contact with bottom regions of the channel material pillars. One or more of magnesium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanide elements is along the bottom regions of the channel material pillars. Some embodiments include methods of forming assemblies. A structure is formed, and a mass is formed against an upper surface of the structure. Plugs are formed within openings in the mass. The plugs comprise a second material over a first material. The first material includes one or more of magnesium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanide elements. Openings are formed to terminate on the first material, and are then extended through the first material. Channel material pillars are formed within the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, John Mark Meldrim, Haoyu Li, Yongjun Jeff Hu, Christopher W. Petz, Daniel Billingsley, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20210005732
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and control gate levels. Channel material extends vertically along the stack. The control gate levels comprising conductive regions. The conductive regions include at least three different materials. Charge-storage regions are adjacent the control gate levels. Charge-blocking regions are between the charge-storage regions and the conductive regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, Rita J. Klein, Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, Brenda D. Kraus, Everett A. McTeer
  • Patent number: 10847367
    Abstract: Described are methods for forming a multilayer conductive structure for semiconductor devices. A seed layer is formed comprising a metal and an additional constituent that in combination with the metal inhibits nucleation of a fill layer of the metal formed over the seed layer. Tungsten may be doped or alloyed with silicon to form the seed layer, with a tungsten fill being formed over the seed layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Economy, Brian Beatty, John Mark Meldrim, Yongjun Jeff Hu, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 10840255
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method in which an assembly is formed to have voids within a stack, and to have slits adjacent the voids. Peripheral boundaries of the voids have proximal regions near the slits and distal regions adjacent the proximal regions. A material is deposited within the voids under conditions which cause the material to form to a greater thickness along the distal regions than along the proximal regions. Some embodiments include an assembly having a stack of alternating first and second levels. The second levels include conductive material. Panel structures extend through the stack. The conductive material within the second levels has outer edges with proximal regions near the panel structures and distal regions adjacent the proximal regions. Interface material is along the outer edges of the conductive material and has a different composition along the proximal regions than along the distal regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20200328348
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having an insulative mass over a conductive base structure. A conductive interconnect extends through the insulative mass to an upper surface of the conductive base structure. The conductive interconnect includes a conductive liner extending around an outer lateral periphery of the interconnect. The conductive liner includes nitrogen in combination with a first metal. A container-shaped conductive structure is laterally surrounded by the conductive liner. The container-shaped conductive structure includes a second metal. A conductive plug is within the container-shaped conductive structure. Some embodiments include methods of forming conductive interconnects within integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Tao D. Nguyen, John Mark Meldrim, Aaron K. Belsher
  • Publication number: 20200328284
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. Channel material extends vertically along the stack. The wordline levels include conductive regions which have a first metal-containing material and a second metal-containing material. The first metal-containing material at least partially surrounds the second metal-containing material. The first metal-containing material has a different crystallinity than the second metal-containing material. In some embodiments the first metal-containing material is substantially amorphous, and the second metal-containing material has a mean grain size within a range of from greater than or equal to about 5 nm to less than or equal to about 200 nm. Charge-storage regions are adjacent the wordline levels. Charge-blocking regions are between the charge-storage regions and the conductive regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, John Mark Meldrim
  • Publication number: 20200312880
    Abstract: A method used in forming an array of elevationally-extending transistors comprises forming vertically-alternating tiers of insulating material and void space. Such method includes forming (a) individual longitudinally-aligned channel openings extending elevationally through the insulating-material tiers, and (b) horizontally-elongated trenches extending elevationally through the insulating-material tiers. The void-space tiers are filled with conductive material by flowing the conductive material or one or more precursors thereof through at least one of (a) and (b) to into the void-space tiers. After the filling, transistor channel material is formed in the individual channel openings along the insulating-material tiers and along the conductive material in the filled void-space tiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, E. Allen McTeer
  • Patent number: 10777651
    Abstract: Some embodiments disclose a gate stack having a gate (e.g., polysilicon (poly) material) horizontally between shallow trench isolations (STIs), a tungsten silicide (WSix) material over the gate and the STIs, and a tungsten silicon nitride (WSiN) material on a top surface of the WSix material. Some embodiments disclose a gate stack having a gate between STIs, a first WSix material over the gate and the STIs, a WSiN interlayer material on a top surface of the first WSix material, and a second WSix material on a top surface of the WSiN interlayer material. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yushi Hu, John Mark Meldrim, Eric Blomiley, Everett Allen McTeer, Matthew J. King
  • Publication number: 20200266210
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly which has channel material pillars, and which has memory cells along the channel material pillars. A conductive structure is under the channel material pillars. The conductive structure has doped semiconductor material in direct contact with bottom regions of the channel material pillars. One or more of magnesium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanide elements is along the bottom regions of the channel material pillars. Some embodiments include methods of forming assemblies. A structure is formed, and a mass is formed against an upper surface of the structure. Plugs are formed within openings in the mass. The plugs comprise a second material over a first material. The first material includes one or more of magnesium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanide elements. Openings are formed to terminate on the first material, and are then extended through the first material. Channel material pillars are formed within the openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, John Mark Meldrim, Haoyu Li, Yongjun Jeff Hu, Christopher W. Petz, Daniel Billingsley, Everett A. McTeer
  • Patent number: 10731273
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and apparatuses comprising methods for formation of and apparatuses including a source material for electronic devices. One such apparatus includes a vertical string of memory cells comprising a plurality of alternating levels of conductor and dielectric material, a semiconductor material extending through the plurality of alternating levels of conductor material and dielectric material, and a source material coupled to the semiconductor material. The source material includes a titanium nitride layer and a source polysilicon layer in direct contact with the titanium nitride layer. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Mark Meldrim, Yushi Hu, Yongjun Jeff Hu, Everett Allen McTeer
  • Patent number: 10727250
    Abstract: A method used in forming an array of elevationally-extending transistors comprises forming vertically-alternating tiers of insulating material and void space. Such method includes forming (a) individual longitudinally-aligned channel openings extending elevationally through the insulating-material tiers, and (b) horizontally-elongated trenches extending elevationally through the insulating-material tiers. The void-space tiers are filled with conductive material by flowing the conductive material or one or more precursors thereof through at least one of (a) and (b) to into the void-space tiers. After the filling, transistor channel material is formed in the individual channel openings along the insulating-material tiers and along the conductive material in the filled void-space tiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, E. Allen McTeer
  • Publication number: 20200211843
    Abstract: Described are methods for forming a multilayer conductive structure for semiconductor devices. A seed layer is formed comprising a metal and an additional constituent that in combination with the metal inhibits nucleation of a fill layer of the metal formed over the seed layer. Tungsten may be doped or alloyed with silicon to form the seed layer, with a tungsten fill being formed over the seed layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, Brian Beatty, John Mark Meldrim, Yongjun Jeff Hu, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 10700091
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly which has channel material pillars, and which has memory cells along the channel material pillars. A conductive structure is under the channel material pillars. The conductive structure has doped semiconductor material in direct contact with bottom regions of the channel material pillars. One or more of magnesium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanide elements is along the bottom regions of the channel material pillars. Some embodiments include methods of forming assemblies. A structure is formed, and a mass is formed against an upper surface of the structure. Plugs are formed within openings in the mass. The plugs comprise a second material over a first material. The first material includes one or more of magnesium, scandium, yttrium and lanthanide elements. Openings are formed to terminate on the first material, and are then extended through the first material. Channel material pillars are formed within the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, John Mark Meldrim, Haoyu Li, Yongjun Jeff Hu, Christopher W. Petz, Daniel Billingsley, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20200161332
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated structure. An assembly is formed to include a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels have insulative material, and the second levels have voids which extend horizontally. The assembly includes channel material structures extending through the stack. A first metal-containing material is deposited within the voids to partially fill the voids. The deposited first metal-containing material is etched to remove some of the first metal-containing material from within the partially-filled voids. Second metal-containing material is then deposited to fill the voids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Chet E. Carter, Collin Howder, John Mark Meldrim, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20200152651
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method in which an assembly is formed to have voids within a stack, and to have slits adjacent the voids. Peripheral boundaries of the voids have proximal regions near the slits and distal regions adjacent the proximal regions. A material is deposited within the voids under conditions which cause the material to form to a greater thickness along the distal regions than along the proximal regions. Some embodiments include an assembly having a stack of alternating first and second levels. The second levels include conductive material. Panel structures extend through the stack. The conductive material within the second levels has outer edges with proximal regions near the panel structures and distal regions adjacent the proximal regions. Interface material is along the outer edges of the conductive material and has a different composition along the proximal regions than along the distal regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20200075620
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a conductive structure of an integrated circuit. The conductive structure includes an upper primary portion, with the upper primary portion having a first conductive constituent configured as a container. The container has a bottom, and a pair of sidewalls extending upwardly from the bottom. An interior region of the container is over the bottom and between the sidewalls. The upper primary portion includes a second conductive constituent configured as a mass filling the interior region of the container. The second conductive constituent is a different composition than the first conductive constituent. One or more conductive projections join to the upper primary portion and extend downwardly from the upper primary portion. Some embodiments include assemblies comprising memory cells over conductive structures. Some embodiments include methods of forming conductive structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy M. Lomeli, Tom George, Jordan D. Greenlee, Scott M. Pook, John Mark Meldrim
  • Patent number: 10573661
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated structure. An assembly is formed to include a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels have insulative material, and the second levels have voids which extend horizontally. The assembly includes channel material structures extending through the stack. A first metal-containing material is deposited within the voids to partially fill the voids. The deposited first metal-containing material is etched to remove some of the first metal-containing material from within the partially-filled voids. Second metal-containing material is then deposited to fill the voids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Chet E. Carter, Collin Howder, John Mark Meldrim, Everett A. McTeer