Abstract: A memory die can include an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and memory stack structures vertically extending through the alternating stack. A first layer stack within the alternating stack includes a first staircase region in which the first electrically conductive layers have respective lateral extents that increase with a vertical distance from the substrate to provide first stepped surfaces. A second layer stack within the alternating stack includes a second staircase region in which the second electrically conductive layers have respective lateral extents that decrease with the vertical distance from the substrate to provide second stepped surfaces. The second layer stack can be more distal from the substrate than the first layer stack. Contact via structures can be formed from the top side and the bottom side of the alternating stack.

Abstract: A bonded assembly includes a first die containing first bonding pads having sidewalls that are laterally bonded to sidewalls of second bonding pads of a second die.

Abstract: Methods for reducing read disturb using NAND strings with poly-silicon channels and p-type doped source lines are described. During a boosted read operation for a selected memory cell transistor in a NAND string, a back-gate bias or bit line voltage may be applied to a bit line connected to the NAND string and a source line voltage greater than the bit line voltage may be applied to a source line connected to the NAND string; with these bias conditions, electrons may be injected from the bit line and annihilated in the source line during the read operation. To avoid leakage currents through NAND strings in non-selected memory blocks, the threshold voltages of source-side select gate transistors of the NAND strings may be set to a negative threshold voltage that has an absolute voltage value greater than the source line voltage applied during the read operation.

Abstract: A memory-containing die includes a three-dimensional memory array, a memory dielectric material layer located on a first side of the three-dimensional memory array, and memory-side bonding pads. A logic die includes a peripheral circuitry configured to control operation of the three-dimensional memory array, logic dielectric material layers located on a first side of the peripheral circuitry, and logic-side bonding pads included in the logic dielectric material layers. The logic-side bonding pads includes a pad-level mesh structure electrically connected to a source power supply circuit within the peripheral circuitry and containing an array of discrete openings therethrough, and discrete logic-side bonding pads. The logic-side bonding pads are bonded to a respective one, or a respective subset, of the memory-side bonding pads. The pad-level mesh structure can be used as a component of a source power distribution network.

Abstract: An anisotropic etch apparatus contains an electrostatic chuck located in a vacuum enclosure and including a lower electrode, an upper electrode overlying the lower electrode and located in the vacuum enclosure, a main radio frequency (RF) power source configured to provide an RF bias voltage between the lower electrode and the upper electrode, and a plurality of conductive edge ring segments surrounding the electrostatic chuck and configured for at least one of independent vertical movement relative to the electrostatic chuck or for independently receiving a different RF bias voltage.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a two-dimensional electron gas channel, a gate electrode, and a ferroelectric element located between the gate electrode and the two-dimensional electron gas channel.

Abstract: A deposition chamber includes a vacuum enclosure, an electrostatic chuck having a flat top surface located within a vacuum enclosure, a lift-and-rotation unit extending through or laterally surrounding the electrostatic chuck at a position that is laterally offset from a vertical axis passing through a geometrical center of the electrostatic chuck, a gas supply manifold configured to provide influx of gas into the vacuum enclosure, and a pumping port connected to the vacuum enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck and located within a vacuum enclosure. A plurality of conductive plates can be embedded in the electrostatic chuck, and a plurality of plate bias circuits can be configured to independently electrically bias a respective one of the plurality of conductive plates. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of spot lamp zones including a respective set of spot lamps can be provided between a bottom portion of the vacuum enclosure and a backside surface of the electrostatic chuck. The plurality of conductive plates and/or the plurality of spot lamp zones can be employed to locally modify chucking force and to provide local temperature control.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck and located within a vacuum enclosure. A plurality of conductive plates can be embedded in the electrostatic chuck, and a plurality of plate bias circuits can be configured to independently electrically bias a respective one of the plurality of conductive plates. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of spot lamp zones including a respective set of spot lamps can be provided between a bottom portion of the vacuum enclosure and a backside surface of the electrostatic chuck. The plurality of conductive plates and/or the plurality of spot lamp zones can be employed to locally modify chucking force and to provide local temperature control.

Abstract: A three-dimensional memory device includes an alternating stack of insulating layers and electrically conductive layers located over a substrate, and memory stack structures extending through the alternating stack. Each of the memory stack structures comprises a memory film and a vertical semiconductor channel contacting an inner sidewall of the memory film. The electrically conductive layers include aluminum and silicon and provide low resistance electrically conductive paths as word lines of the three-dimensional memory device. The aluminum-based electrically conductive layers can provide low resistivity, low mechanical stress, and thermal stability for use as high performance word lines.

Abstract: A first metal layer can be deposited over first dielectric material layers of a first substrate, and can be patterned into first bonding pads. A first low-k material layer can be formed over the first bonding pads. The first low-k material layer includes a low-k dielectric material such as a MOF dielectric material or organosilicate glass. A second semiconductor die including second bonding pads can be provided. The first bonding pads are bonded to the second bonding pads to form a bonded assembly.

Abstract: A first metal layer can be deposited over first dielectric material layers of a first substrate, and can be patterned into first metallic plates. First bonding pads including a respective one of the first metallic plates are formed. A first polymer material layer can be formed over the first bonding pads. A second semiconductor die including second bonding pads is bonded to the first bonding pads to form a bonded assembly.

Abstract: A memory-containing die includes a three-dimensional memory array, a memory dielectric material layer located on a first side of the three-dimensional memory array, and memory-side bonding pads. A logic die includes a peripheral circuitry configured to control operation of the three-dimensional memory array, logic dielectric material layers located on a first side of the peripheral circuitry, and logic-side bonding pads included in the logic dielectric material layers. The logic-side bonding pads includes a pad-level mesh structure electrically connected to a source power supply circuit within the peripheral circuitry and containing an array of discrete openings therethrough, and discrete logic-side bonding pads. The logic-side bonding pads are bonded to a respective one, or a respective subset, of the memory-side bonding pads. The pad-level mesh structure can be used as a component of a source power distribution network.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming first semiconductor devices over a first substrate, forming a first dielectric material layer over the first semiconductor devices, forming vertical recesses in the first dielectric material layer, such that each of the vertical recesses vertically extends from a topmost surface of the first dielectric material layer toward the first substrate, forming silicon nitride material portions in each of the vertical recesses; and locally irradiating a second subset of the silicon nitride material portions with a laser beam.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a two-dimensional electron gas channel, a gate electrode, and a ferroelectric element located between the gate electrode and the two-dimensional electron gas channel.

Abstract: A ferroelectric memory device includes a two-dimensional electron gas channel, a gate electrode, and a ferroelectric element located between the gate electrode and the two-dimensional electron gas channel.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes providing a dopant species selected from carbon, boron, nitrogen or oxygen into an upper portion of a semiconductor region to form a doped etch stop semiconductor material portion over a remaining semiconductor material portion, forming an overlying material portion over the etch stop semiconductor material portion, etching through the overlying material portion by an etch process that removes the overlying material portion selective to a material of the etch stop semiconductor material portion, and depositing at least one fill material over the etch stop semiconductor material portion.

Abstract: A bonded assembly and a method of forming a bonded assembly includes providing a first semiconductor die including a first substrate, first semiconductor devices, and first bonding pads that are electrically connected to a respective node of the first semiconductor devices, providing a second semiconductor die including a second substrate, second semiconductor devices, and second bonding pads that are electrically connected to a respective node of the second semiconductor devices, forming a dielectric bonding pattern definition layer including bonding pattern definition openings therethrough over the second bonding pads, and bonding the second bonding pads to the first bonding pads, where the first metal pads expand through the bonding pattern definition openings and are bonded to a respective one of the second bonding pads.

Abstract: A first semiconductor die includes first bonding pads. The first bonding pads include proximal bonding pads embedded within a first bonding dielectric layer and distal bonding pads having at least part of the sidewall that overlies the first bonding dielectric layer. A second semiconductor die includes second bonding pads. The second bonding pads are bonded to the proximal bonding pads and the distal bonding pads. The proximal bonding pads are bonded to a respective one of a first subset of the second bonding pads at a respective horizontal bonding interface and the distal bonding pads are bonded to a respective one of a second subset of the second bonding pads at a respective vertical bonding interface at the same time. Dielectric isolation structures may vertically extend through the second bonding dielectric layer of the second semiconductor die and contact the first bonding dielectric layer.

Abstract: A memory system is provided with technology for performing temperature dependent impedance mitigation, in addition to or instead of other techniques to compensate for differences in impedance. For example, the memory system comprises a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a first pathway connected to the plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a second pathway connected to the plurality of non-volatile memory cells, and a control circuit connected to the first pathway and the second pathway. The control circuit is configured to compensate based on temperature for a temperature dependent impedance mismatch between the first pathway and the second pathway during a memory operation on the plurality of non-volatile memory cells.