Patents by Inventor Martin C. Roberts
Martin C. Roberts 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: 20170301685Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having vertically-stacked conductive levels alternating with dielectric levels. A layer over the conductive levels includes silicon, nitrogen, and one or more of carbon, oxygen, boron and phosphorus. In some embodiments the vertically-stacked conductive levels are wordline levels within a NAND memory array. Some embodiments include an integrated structure having vertically-stacked conductive levels alternating with dielectric levels. Vertically-stacked NAND memory cells are along the conductive levels within a memory array region. A staircase region is proximate the memory array region. The staircase region has electrical contacts in one-to-one correspondence with the conductive levels. A layer is over the memory array region and over the staircase region. The layer includes silicon, nitrogen, and one or more of carbon, oxygen, boron and phosphorus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2016Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, Fei Wang, Chet E. Carter, Ian Laboriante, John D. Hopkins, Kunal Shrotri, Ryan Meyer, Vinayak Shamanna, Kunal R. Parekh, Martin C. Roberts, Matthew Park
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Patent number: 9741732Abstract: 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. Vertically-extending monolithic channel material is adjacent the select device gate material and the conductive levels. The monolithic channel material contains a lower segment adjacent the select device gate material and an upper segment adjacent the conductive levels. A first vertically-extending region is between the lower segment of the monolithic channel material and the select device gate material. The first vertically-extending region contains a first material. A second vertically-extending region is between the upper segment of the monolithic channel material and the conductive levels. The second vertically-extending region contains a material which is different in composition from the first material.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, David Daycock, Kunal R. Parekh, Martin C. Roberts, Yushi Hu
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Publication number: 20170148802Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly with a semiconductor channel material having a boundary region where a more-heavily-doped region interfaces with a less-heavily-doped region. The more-heavily-doped region and the less-heavily-doped region have the same majority carriers. The integrated assembly includes a gating structure adjacent the semiconductor channel material and having a gating region and an interconnecting region of a common and continuous material. The gating region has a length extending along a segment of the more-heavily-doped region, a segment of the less-heavily-doped region, and the boundary region. The interconnecting region extends laterally outward from the gating region on a side opposite the semiconductor channel region, and is narrower than the length of the gating region. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 23, 2015Publication date: May 25, 2017Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, Kunal R. Parekh, Martin C. Roberts, Mohd Kamran Akhtar, Chet E. Carter, David Daycock
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Publication number: 20170054036Abstract: 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. Vertically-extending monolithic channel material is adjacent the select device gate material and the conductive levels. The monolithic channel material contains a lower segment adjacent the select device gate material and an upper segment adjacent the conductive levels. A first vertically-extending region is between the lower segment of the monolithic channel material and the select device gate material. The first vertically-extending region contains a first material. A second vertically-extending region is between the upper segment of the monolithic channel material and the conductive levels. The second vertically-extending region contains a material which is different in composition from the first material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2015Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, David Daycock, Kunal R. Parekh, Martin C. Roberts, Yushi Hu
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Patent number: 9391092Abstract: A circuit structure includes a substrate having an array region and a peripheral region. The substrate in the array and peripheral regions includes insulator material over first semiconductor material, conductive material over the insulator material, and second semiconductor material over the conductive material. The array region includes vertical circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The peripheral region includes horizontal circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The horizontal circuit devices in the peripheral region individually have a floating body which includes the second semiconductor material. The conductive material in the peripheral region is under and electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material of the floating bodies. Conductive straps in the array region are under the vertical circuit devices.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2015Date of Patent: July 12, 2016Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: John K. Zahurak, Sanh D. Tang, Lars P. Heineck, Martin C. Roberts, Wolfgang Mueller, Haitao Liu
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Publication number: 20160056175Abstract: A circuit structure includes a substrate having an array region and a peripheral region. The substrate in the array and peripheral regions includes insulator material over first semiconductor material, conductive material over the insulator material, and second semiconductor material over the conductive material. The array region includes vertical circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The peripheral region includes horizontal circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The horizontal circuit devices in the peripheral region individually have a floating body which includes the second semiconductor material. The conductive material in the peripheral region is under and electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material of the floating bodies. Conductive straps in the array region are under the vertical circuit devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2015Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: John K. Zahurak, Sanh D. Tang, Lars P. Heineck, Martin C. Roberts, Wolfgang Mueller, Haitao Liu
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Patent number: 9269795Abstract: A circuit structure includes a substrate having an array region and a peripheral region. The substrate in the array and peripheral regions includes insulator material over first semiconductor material, conductive material over the insulator material, and second semiconductor material over the conductive material. The array region includes vertical circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The peripheral region includes horizontal circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The horizontal circuit devices in the peripheral region individually have a floating body which includes the second semiconductor material. The conductive material in the peripheral region is under and electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material of the floating bodies. Conductive straps in the array region are under the vertical circuit devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: John K. Zahurak, Sanh D. Tang, Lars P. Heineck, Martin C. Roberts, Wolfgang Mueller, Haitao Liu
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Publication number: 20140273358Abstract: A circuit structure includes a substrate having an array region and a peripheral region. The substrate in the array and peripheral regions includes insulator material over first semiconductor material, conductive material over the insulator material, and second semiconductor material over the conductive material. The array region includes vertical circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The peripheral region includes horizontal circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The horizontal circuit devices in the peripheral region individually have a floating body which includes the second semiconductor material. The conductive material in the peripheral region is under and electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material of the floating bodies. Conductive straps in the array region are under the vertical circuit devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: John K. Zahurak, Sanh D. Tang, Lars P. Heineck, Martin C. Roberts, Wolfgang Mueller, Haitao Liu
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Patent number: 8772848Abstract: A circuit structure includes a substrate having an array region and a peripheral region. The substrate in the array and peripheral regions includes insulator material over first semiconductor material, conductive material over the insulator material, and second semiconductor material over the conductive material. The array region includes vertical circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The peripheral region includes horizontal circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The horizontal circuit devices in the peripheral region individually have a floating body which includes the second semiconductor material. The conductive material in the peripheral region is under and electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material of the floating bodies. Conductive straps in the array region are under the vertical circuit devices.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: John K. Zahurak, Sanh D. Tang, Lars P. Heineck, Martin C. Roberts, Wolfgang Mueller, Haitao Liu
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Publication number: 20130026471Abstract: A circuit structure includes a substrate having an array region and a peripheral region. The substrate in the array and peripheral regions includes insulator material over first semiconductor material, conductive material over the insulator material, and second semiconductor material over the conductive material. The array region includes vertical circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The peripheral region includes horizontal circuit devices which include the second semiconductor material. The horizontal circuit devices in the peripheral region individually have a floating body which includes the second semiconductor material. The conductive material in the peripheral region is under and electrically coupled to the second semiconductor material of the floating bodies. Conductive straps in the array region are under the vertical circuit devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2011Publication date: January 31, 2013Inventors: John K. Zahurak, Sanh D. Tang, Lars P. Heineck, Martin C. Roberts, Wolfgang Mueller, Haitao Liu
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Patent number: 7332811Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2006Date of Patent: February 19, 2008Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin C. Roberts, Sanh D. Tang
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Patent number: 7160801Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2000Date of Patent: January 9, 2007Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin C. Roberts, Sanh D. Tang
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Patent number: 6740573Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1995Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin C. Roberts, Sanh D. Tang
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Patent number: 6596632Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2001Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin C. Roberts, Sanh D. Tang
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Publication number: 20020063283Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit on a wafer includes forming a gate electrode stack over a gate dielectric and forming nitride spacers along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls. Subsequently, a reoxidation process is performed with respect to the gate dielectric. By providing the nitride spacers along exposed surfaces of conductive barrier and metal layers of the word line stack, those surfaces can be passivated, thereby preventing or reducing the conversion of those layers to non-conductive compounds during the reoxidation process. At the same time, the nitride spacers can be formed so that they do not interfere with the subsequent reoxidation of the gate dielectric. An integrated circuit having a gate electrode stack with nitride spacers extending along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2000Publication date: May 30, 2002Inventors: Pai-Hung Pan, Martin C. Roberts, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Weimin Li, Christopher W. Hill, Vishnu K. Agarwal
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Publication number: 20010012691Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2001Publication date: August 9, 2001Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin C. Roberts, Sanh D. Tang
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Publication number: 20010000760Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2000Publication date: May 3, 2001Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin C. Roberts, Sanh D. Tang
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Patent number: 6200892Abstract: A method for forming an electrical interconnect overlying a buried contact region of a substrate is characterized by a deposition of a first polycrystalline silicon layer and the patterning and etching of same to form a via. The via is formed in the first polycrystalline silicon layer to expose the substrate and a second polycrystalline silicon layer is formed in the via to contact the substrate. Portions of the second polycrystalline silicon layer overlying the first polycrystalline silicon layer are removed eliminating any horizontal interface between the two polycrystalline silicon layers. The first polycrystalline silicon layer remaining after the etch is then patterned to form an electrical interconnect.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1998Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Martin C. Roberts, Sanh D. Tang
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Patent number: 6198144Abstract: A method of fabricating an integrated circuit on a wafer includes forming a gate electrode stack over a gate dielectric and forming nitride spacers along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls. Subsequently, a reoxidation process is performed with respect to the gate dielectric. By providing the nitride spacers along exposed surfaces of conductive barrier and metal layers of the word line stack, those surfaces can be passivated, thereby preventing or reducing the conversion of those layers to non-conductive compounds during the reoxidation process. At the same time, the nitride spacers can be formed so that they do not interfere with the subsequent reoxidation of the gate dielectric. An integrated circuit having a gate electrode stack with nitride spacers extending along sidewalls of the gate electrode stack other than along lowermost portions of the sidewalls is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Pai-Hung Pan, Martin C. Roberts, Gurtei S. Sandhu, Weimin Li, Christopher W. Hill, Vishnu K. Agarwal
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Patent number: 5966615Abstract: A trench for isolating active devices on a semiconductor substrate, formed by creating a trench which has a peripheral edge, and disposing an isolating material in the trench. The isolating material extends over the peripheral edge of the trench, thereby covering at least a portion of the substrate surrounding the trench, and substantially limiting leakage of the active devices disposed on the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 1998Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: Pierre C. Fazan, Martin C. Roberts, Gurtej S. Sandhu