Patents by Inventor Paolo Tessariol

Paolo Tessariol 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: 20210098493
    Abstract: In an example of forming a stacked memory array, a stack of alternating first and second dielectrics is formed. A dielectric extension is formed through the stack such that a first portion of the dielectric extension is in a first region of the stack between a first group of semiconductor structures and a second group of semiconductor structures in a second region of the stack and a second portion of the dielectric extension extends into a third region of the stack that does not include the first and second semiconductor structures. An opening is formed through the first region, while the dielectric extension couples the alternating first and second dielectrics in the third region to the alternating first and second dielectrics in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi
  • Publication number: 20210065810
    Abstract: Methods of operating a memory, and memory configured to perform similar methods, might include applying a positive first voltage level to a first node selectively connected to a string of series-connected memory cells while applying a negative second voltage level to a control gate of a transistor connected between the first node and the string of series-connected memory cells, and increasing the voltage level applied to the first node to a third voltage level while increasing the voltage level applied to the control gate of the transistor to a fourth voltage level lower than the third voltage level and higher than the first voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Publication date: March 4, 2021
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Giovanni Maria Paolucci, Paolo Tessariol, Emilio Camerlenghi, Gianpietro Carnevale, Augusto Benvenuti
  • Publication number: 20210057439
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Operative channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. Insulative pillars are laterally-between and longitudinally-spaced-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks. The pillars are directly against conducting material of conductive lines in the conductive tiers. Other arrays, and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Justin B. Dorhout, Jian Li, Ryan L. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20210057437
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a NAND memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and conductive levels. The conductive levels include control gate regions. High-k dielectric material is adjacent to the control gate regions and is configured as an arrangement of first vertically-extending linear segments which are vertically spaced from one another. Charge-blocking material is adjacent to the high-k dielectric material and is configured as an arrangement of second vertically-extending linear segments which are vertically spaced from one another. Charge-storage material is adjacent to the charge-blocking material and is configured as an arrangement of third vertically-extending linear segments which are vertically spaced from one another. Gate-dielectric material is adjacent to the charge-storage material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack and is adjacent to the gate-dielectric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Davide Resnati, Paolo Tessariol, Richard J. Hill, John D. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20210057441
    Abstract: A memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises laterally-spaced memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Operative channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The operative channel-material strings in the laterally-spaced memory blocks comprise part of a memory plane. An elevationally-extending wall is in the memory plane laterally-between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks and that completely encircles an island that is laterally-between immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks in the memory plane. Other embodiments, including method are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lifang Xu, Indra V. Chary, Justin B. Dorhout, Jian Li, Haitao Liu, Paolo Tessariol
  • Patent number: 10879175
    Abstract: Conductive structures include stair step structures positioned along a length of the conductive structure and at least one landing comprising at least one via extending through the conductive structure. The at least one landing is positioned between a first stair step structure of the stair step structures and a second stair step structure of the stair step structures. Devices may include such conductive structures. Systems may include a semiconductor device and stair step structures separated by at least one landing having at least one via formed in the at least one landing. Methods of forming conductive structures include forming at least one via through a landing positioned between stair step structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Graham R. Wolstenholme, Aaron Yip
  • Patent number: 10868032
    Abstract: In an example of forming a stacked memory array, a stack of alternating first and second dielectrics is formed. A dielectric extension is formed through the stack such that a first portion of the dielectric extension is in a first region of the stack between a first group of semiconductor structures and a second group of semiconductor structures in a second region of the stack and a second portion of the dielectric extension extends into a third region of the stack that does not include the first and second semiconductor structures. An opening is formed through the first region, while the dielectric extension couples the alternating first and second dielectrics in the third region to the alternating first and second dielectrics in the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi
  • Patent number: 10861552
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a string of memory cells, a conductive line and a bipolar junction transistor configured to selectively couple the string of memory cells to the conductive line. Other embodiments including additional apparatus and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Roberto Gastaldi
  • Publication number: 20200328222
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a construction comprising a stack that have vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. An array of openings is formed in an uppermost portion of upper material that is above the stack, and the openings comprise channel openings and dummy openings. At least the uppermost portion of the upper material is used as a mask while etching the channel openings and the dummy openings into a lower portion of the upper material. The channel openings are etched into the insulative and wordline tiers. The channel openings are etched deeper into the construction than the dummy openings, and channel material is formed in the channel openings after the etching. Structures independent of method are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Jared Barclay, Merri L. Carlson, Saurabh Keshav, George Matamis, Young Joon Moon, Kunal R. Parekh, Paolo Tessariol, Vinayak Shamanna
  • Patent number: 10756105
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprises forming a tier comprising conductor material above a substrate. Sacrificial islands comprising etch-stop material are formed directly above the conductor material of the tier comprising the conductor material. A stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers is formed above the sacrificial islands and the tier comprising the conductor material. Etching is conducted through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers to the etch-stop material of individual of the sacrificial islands to form channel openings that have individual bases comprising the etch-stop material. The sacrificial islands are removed through individual of the channel openings to extend the individual channel openings to the tier comprising the conductor material. Channel material is formed in the extended-channel openings to the tier comprising the conductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, M. Jared Barclay, Emilio Camerlenghi, Paolo Tessariol
  • Patent number: 10727242
    Abstract: An array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells, where the memory cells individually comprise a programmable charge storage transistor, comprises a substrate comprising a first region containing memory cells and a second region not containing memory cells laterally of the first region. The first region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of insulative material and control gate material. The second region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of different composition insulating materials laterally of the first region. A channel pillar comprising semiconductive channel material extends elevationally through multiple of the vertically-alternating tiers within the first region. Tunnel insulator, programmable charge storage material, and control gate blocking insulator are between the channel pillar and the control gate material of individual of the tiers of the control gate material within the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, Kunal R. Parekh, Matthew Park, Joseph Neil Greeley, Chet E. Carter, Martin C. Roberts, Indra V. Chary, Vinayak Shamanna, Ryan Meyer, Paolo Tessariol
  • Publication number: 20200168622
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprises forming a tier comprising conductor material above a substrate. Sacrificial islands comprising etch-stop material are formed directly above the conductor material of the tier comprising the conductor material. A stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers is formed above the sacrificial islands and the tier comprising the conductor material. Etching is conducted through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers to the etch-stop material of individual of the sacrificial islands to form channel openings that have individual bases comprising the etch-stop material. The sacrificial islands are removed through individual of the channel openings to extend the individual channel openings to the tier comprising the conductor material. Channel material is formed in the extended-channel openings to the tier comprising the conductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 28, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, M. Jared Barclay, Emilio Camerlenghi, Paolo Tessariol
  • Publication number: 20200127004
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The stack comprises an insulator tier above the wordline tiers. The insulator tier comprises first insulator material comprising silicon, nitrogen, and one or more of carbon, oxygen, boron, and phosphorus. The first insulator material is patterned to form first horizontally-elongated trenches in the insulator tier. Second insulator material is formed in the first trenches along sidewalls of the first insulator material. The second insulator material is of different composition from that of the first insulator material and narrows the first trenches. After forming the second insulator material, second horizontally-elongated trenches are formed through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. The second trenches are horizontally along the narrowed first trenches laterally between and below the second insulator material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, Erik Byers, Merri L. Carlson, Indra V. Chary, Damir Fazil, John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli, Eldon Nelson, Joel D. Peterson, Dimitrios Pavlopoulos, Paolo Tessariol, Lifang Xu
  • Publication number: 20200119039
    Abstract: In an example of forming a stacked memory array, a stack of alternating first and second dielectrics is formed. A dielectric extension is formed through the stack such that a first portion of the dielectric extension is in a first region of the stack between a first group of semiconductor structures and a second group of semiconductor structures in a second region of the stack and a second portion of the dielectric extension extends into a third region of the stack that does not include the first and second semiconductor structures. An opening is formed through the first region, while the dielectric extension couples the alternating first and second dielectrics in the third region to the alternating first and second dielectrics in the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: April 16, 2020
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi
  • Publication number: 20190341266
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a semiconductor base and an insulative frame over the semiconductor base. The insulative frame has vertically-spaced sheets of first insulative material, and pillars of second insulative material between the vertically-spaced sheets. The first and second insulative materials are different from one another. Conductive plates are between the vertically-spaced sheets and are directly against the insulative pillars. Some embodiments include capacitors, and some embodiments include methods of forming capacitors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Freeman, Paolo Tessariol
  • Publication number: 20190259703
    Abstract: Conductive structures include stair step structures positioned along a length of the conductive structure and at least one landing comprising at least one via extending through the conductive structure. The at least one landing is positioned between a first stair step structure of the stair step structures and a second stair step structure of the stair step structures. Devices may include such conductive structures. Systems may include a semiconductor device and stair step structures separated by at least one landing having at least one via formed in the at least one landing. Methods of forming conductive structures include forming at least one via through a landing positioned between stair step structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Graham R. Wolstenholme, Aaron Yip
  • Patent number: 10366901
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated structure having a semiconductor base and an insulative frame over the semiconductor base. The insulative frame has vertically-spaced sheets of first insulative material, and pillars of second insulative material between the vertically-spaced sheets. The first and second insulative materials are different from one another. Conductive plates are between the vertically-spaced sheets and are directly against the insulative pillars. Some embodiments include capacitors, and some embodiments include methods of forming capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Freeman, Paolo Tessariol
  • Publication number: 20190229127
    Abstract: An array of elevationally-extending strings of memory cells, where the memory cells individually comprise a programmable charge storage transistor, comprises a substrate comprising a first region containing memory cells and a second region not containing memory cells laterally of the first region. The first region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of insulative material and control gate material. The second region comprises vertically-alternating tiers of different composition insulating materials laterally of the first region. A channel pillar comprising semiconductive channel material extends elevationally through multiple of the vertically-alternating tiers within the first region. Tunnel insulator, programmable charge storage material, and control gate blocking insulator are between the channel pillar and the control gate material of individual of the tiers of the control gate material within the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin B. Dorhout, Kunal R. Parekh, Matthew Park, Joseph Neil Greeley, Chet E. Carter, Martin C. Roberts, Indra V. Chary, Vinayak Shamanna, Ryan Meyer, Paolo Tessariol
  • Publication number: 20190221264
    Abstract: Some embodiments include apparatus and methods having a string of memory cells, a conductive line and a bipolar junction transistor configured to selectively couple the string of memory cells to the conductive line. Other embodiments including additional apparatus and methods are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Roberto Gastaldi
  • Patent number: 10290581
    Abstract: Conductive structures include stair step structures positioned along a length of the conductive structure and at least one landing comprising at least one via extending through the conductive structure. The at least one landing is positioned between a first stair step structure of the stair step structures and a second stair step structure of the stair step structures. Devices may include such conductive structures. Systems may include a semiconductor device and stair step structures separated by at least one landing having at least one via formed in the at least one landing. Methods of forming conductive structures include forming at least one via through a landing positioned between stair step structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Tessariol, Graham R. Wolstenholme, Aaron Yip