Patents by Inventor Matthew S. Thorum

Matthew S. Thorum 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).

  • Publication number: 20230397390
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for an array of vertically stacked memory cells having horizontally oriented access devices and storage nodes formed in tiers. And, more particularly, to multiple, alternating epitaxially grown silicon germanium (SiGe) and single crystalline silicon (Si) in different thicknesses to form tiers in which to form the horizontal access devices in vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. The horizontally oriented access devices can have a first source/drain regions and a second source drain regions separated by epitaxially grown, single crystalline silicon (Si) channel regions. Horizontally oriented access lines can connect to gate all around (GAA) structures opposing the channel regions. Vertical digit lines coupled to the first source/drain regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: David K. Hwang, John F. Kaeding, Matthew S. Thorum, Yuanzhi Ma, Scott E. Sills, Si-Woo Lee, Yoshitaka Nakamura, Glen H. Walters
  • Patent number: 11791152
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include removing a material from a structure to form an opening in the structure, exposing a residue, resulting from removing the material, to an alcohol gas to form a volatile compound, and removing the volatile compound by vaporization. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Patent number: 11600485
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include closing an opening in a structure with a sacrificial material at a first processing tool, moving the structure from the first processing tool to a second processing tool while the opening is closed, and removing the sacrificial material at the second processing tool. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11482409
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to freezing a sacrificial material in forming a semiconductor. In an example, a method may include solidifying, via freezing, a sacrificial material in an opening of a structure, wherein the sacrificial material has a freezing point below a boiling point of a solvent used in a wet clean operation and removing the sacrificial material via sublimation by exposing the sacrificial material to a particular temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Publication number: 20210305039
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include removing a material from a structure to form an opening in the structure, exposing a residue, resulting from removing the material, to an alcohol gas to form a volatile compound, and removing the volatile compound by vaporization. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Publication number: 20210225637
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to freezing a sacrificial material in forming a semiconductor. In an example, a method may include solidifying, via freezing, a sacrificial material in an opening of a structure, wherein the sacrificial material has a freezing point below a boiling point of a solvent used in a wet clean operation and removing the sacrificial material via sublimation by exposing the sacrificial material to a particular temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Publication number: 20210210341
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to sublimation in forming a semiconductor. In an example, a method may include forming a sacrificial material in an opening of a structure, wherein the sacrificial material displaces a solvent used in a wet clean operation and removing the sacrificial material via sublimation by exposing the sacrificial material to sub-atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Publication number: 20210183643
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include closing an opening in a structure with a sacrificial material at a first processing tool, moving the structure from the first processing tool to a second processing tool while the opening is closed, and removing the sacrificial material at the second processing tool. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11037779
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include removing a material from a structure to form an opening in the structure, exposing a residue, resulting from removing the material, to an alcohol gas to form a volatile compound, and removing the volatile compound by vaporization. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Patent number: 10964525
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to sublimation in forming a semiconductor. In an example, a method may include forming a sacrificial material in an opening of a structure, wherein the sacrificial material displaces a solvent used in a wet clean operation and removing the sacrificial material via sublimation by exposing the sacrificial material to sub-atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Patent number: 10957530
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to freezing a sacrificial material in forming a semiconductor. In an example, a method may include solidifying, via freezing, a sacrificial material in an opening of a structure, wherein the sacrificial material has a freezing point below a boiling point of a solvent used in a wet clean operation and removing the sacrificial material via sublimation by exposing the sacrificial material to a particular temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Patent number: 10937644
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include closing an opening in a structure with a sacrificial material at a first processing tool, moving the structure from the first processing tool to a second processing tool while the opening is closed, and removing the sacrificial material at the second processing tool. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 10825686
    Abstract: An example of forming semiconductor devices can include forming a silicon-hydrogen (Si—H) terminated surface on a silicon structure that includes patterned features by exposing the silicon structure to a hydrogen fluoride (HF) containing solution and performing a surface modification via hydrosilylation by exposing the Si—H terminated surface to an alkene and/or an alkyne.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 10784101
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include closing an opening in a structure with a sacrificial material at a first processing tool, moving the structure from the first processing tool to a second processing tool while the opening is closed, and removing the sacrificial material at the second processing tool. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20200075340
    Abstract: An example of forming semiconductor devices can include forming a silicon-hydrogen (Si—H) terminated surface on a silicon structure that includes patterned features by exposing the silicon structure to a hydrogen fluoride (HF) containing solution and performing a surface modification via hydrosilylation by exposing the Si—H terminated surface to an alkene and/or an alkyne.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 10475656
    Abstract: An example of forming semiconductor devices can include forming a silicon-hydrogen (Si—H) terminated surface on a silicon structure that includes patterned features by exposing the silicon structure to a hydrogen fluoride (HF) containing solution and performing a surface modification via hydrosilylation by exposing the Si—H terminated surface to an alkene and/or an alkyne.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20190333756
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include closing an opening in a structure with a sacrificial material at a first processing tool, moving the structure from the first processing tool to a second processing tool while the opening is closed, and removing the sacrificial material at the second processing tool. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20190189455
    Abstract: An example of forming semiconductor devices can include forming a silicon-hydrogen (Si—H) terminated surface on a silicon structure that includes patterned features by exposing the silicon structure to a hydrogen fluoride (HF) containing solution and performing a surface modification via hydrosilylation by exposing the Si—H terminated surface to an alkene and/or an alkyne.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20190189426
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related to sublimation in forming a semiconductor. In an example, a method may include forming a sacrificial material in an opening of a structure, wherein the sacrificial material displaces a solvent used in a wet clean operation and removing the sacrificial material via sublimation by exposing the sacrificial material to sub-atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventor: Matthew S. Thorum
  • Publication number: 20190189424
    Abstract: In an example, a method may include closing an opening in a structure with a sacrificial material at a first processing tool, moving the structure from the first processing tool to a second processing tool while the opening is closed, and removing the sacrificial material at the second processing tool. The structure may be used in semiconductor devices, such as memory devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Publication date: June 20, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew S. Thorum, Gurtej S. Sandhu