Patents by Inventor Purnima Narayanan

Purnima Narayanan 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: 20260159955
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet chemical processing of multiple substrates consists of a processing tank that supports these substrates. Positioned within this tank, s flow plate is situated below the substrates when they are in place. This flow plate features numerous orifices that are configured to discharge a liquid solution containing a dispersion of gas bubbles towards the substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Applicant: Yield Engineering Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajeev Bajaj, Christopher Lane, Deepak Pandey, Purnima Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20260013136
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first deck that has first memory cells and having a second deck that has second memory cells. The first memory cells have first control gate regions that include a first conductive material vertically between horizontally extending bars of a second conductive material. The second memory cells have second control gate regions that include a fourth conductive material along an outer surface of a third conductive material. A pillar passes through the first and second decks. The pillar includes a dielectric-barrier material laterally surrounding a channel material. The first and fourth materials are directly against the dielectric-barrier material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin B. Dorhout, Nirup Bandaru, Damir Fazil, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jivaan Kishore Jhothiraman, Purnima Narayanan
  • Patent number: 12432925
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first deck which has first memory cells, and having a second deck which has second memory cells. The first memory cells have first control gate regions which include a first conductive material vertically between horizontally-extending bars of a second conductive material. The second memory cells have second control gate regions which include a fourth conductive material along an outer surface of a third conductive material. A pillar passes through the first and second decks. The pillar includes a dielectric-barrier material laterally surrounding a channel material. The first and fourth materials are directly against the dielectric-barrier material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2025
    Assignee: Lodestar Licensing Group LLC
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin B. Dorhout, Nirup Bandaru, Damir Fazil, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jivaan Kishore Jhothiraman, Purnima Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20250259678
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a lower portion of a stack that will comprise vertically-alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. The lower portion comprises multiple lower of the conductive tiers and multiple lower of the insulative tiers. The lower insulative tiers comprise insulative material. The lower conductive tiers comprise sacrificial material that is of different composition from that of the insulative material. The sacrificial material is replaced with conducting material. After the replacing of the sacrificial material, the vertically-alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers of an upper portion of the stack are formed above the lower portion. The upper portion comprises multiple upper of the conductive tiers and multiple upper of the insulative tiers. The upper insulative tiers comprise insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2025
    Publication date: August 14, 2025
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins, Purnima Narayanan, Vinayak Shamanna, Justin D. Shepherdson
  • Patent number: 12288585
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a lower portion of a stack that will comprise vertically-alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. The lower portion comprises multiple lower of the conductive tiers and multiple lower of the insulative tiers. The lower insulative tiers comprise insulative material. The lower conductive tiers comprise sacrificial material that is of different composition from that of the insulative material. The sacrificial material is replaced with conducting material. After the replacing of the sacrificial material, the vertically-alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers of an upper portion of the stack are formed above the lower portion. The upper portion comprises multiple upper of the conductive tiers and multiple upper of the insulative tiers. The upper insulative tiers comprise insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins, Purnima Narayanan, Vinayak Shamanna, Justin D. Shepherdson
  • Publication number: 20250107089
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated assembly. A stack of alternating first and second materials is formed over a conductive structure. The conductive structure includes a semiconductor-containing material over a metal-containing material. An opening is formed to extend through the stack and through the semiconductor-containing material, to expose the metal-containing material. The semiconductor-containing material is doped with carbon and/or with one or more metals. After the doping of the semiconductor-containing material, the second material of the stack is removed to form voids. Conductive material is formed within the voids. Insulative material is formed within the opening. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies having carbon distributed within at least a portion of a semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Purnima Narayanan, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240397717
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first deck which has first memory cells, and having a second deck which has second memory cells. The first memory cells have first control gate regions which include a first conductive material vertically between horizontally-extending bars of a second conductive material. The second memory cells have second control gate regions which include a fourth conductive material along an outer surface of a third conductive material. A pillar passes through the first and second decks. The pillar includes a dielectric-barrier material laterally surrounding a channel material. The first and fourth materials are directly against the dielectric-barrier material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2024
    Publication date: November 28, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin B. Dorhout, Nirup Bandaru, Damir Fazil, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jivaan Kishore Jhothiraman, Purnima Narayanan
  • Patent number: 12150303
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. The wordline levels have conductive terminal ends within control gate regions. The control gate regions are vertically spaced from one another by first insulative regions which include first insulative material. Charge-storage material is laterally outward of the conductive terminal ends, and is configured as segments. The segments of the charge-storage material are arranged one atop another and are vertically spaced from one another by second insulative regions which include second insulative material. The second insulative material has a different dielectric constant than the first insulative material. Charge-tunneling material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the segments of the charge-trapping material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the charge-tunneling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Inventors: Byeung Chul Kim, Francois H. Fabreguette, Richard J. Hill, Purnima Narayanan, Shyam Surthi
  • Patent number: 12144176
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated assembly. A stack of alternating first and second materials is formed over a conductive structure. The conductive structure includes a semiconductor-containing material over a metal-containing material. An opening is formed to extend through the stack and through the semiconductor-containing material, to expose the metal-containing material. The semiconductor-containing material is doped with carbon and/or with one or more metals. After the doping of the semiconductor-containing material, the second material of the stack is removed to form voids. Conductive material is formed within the voids. Insulative material is formed within the opening. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies having carbon distributed within at least a portion of a semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Purnima Narayanan, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240341079
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wordline recess formation and resulting structures are described. In some instances, aspects of a memory device may be formed using a wet etching process. For example, a wet etching process may be used to remove (e.g., etch) one or more materials (e.g., nitrides) when forming wordlines. The wet etching process may include depositing a first resist material and a second resist material to selectively remove (e.g., etch) different portions of the nitride material. Such processes may result in gate oxides of the memory device being relatively uniform in shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 10, 2024
    Inventors: Babak Tahmouresilerd, Ramaswamy Ishwar Venkatanarayanan, Don Koun Lee, Purnima Narayanan, Sanjeev Sapra
  • Patent number: 12010850
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first deck which has first memory cells, and having a second deck which has second memory cells. The first memory cells have first control gate regions which include a first conductive material vertically between horizontally-extending bars of a second conductive material. The second memory cells have second control gate regions which include a fourth conductive material along an outer surface of a third conductive material. A pillar passes through the first and second decks. The pillar includes a dielectric-barrier material laterally surrounding a channel material. The first and fourth materials are directly against the dielectric-barrier material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin B. Dorhout, Nirup Bandaru, Damir Fazil, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jivaan Kishore Jhothiraman, Purnima Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20240008275
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first deck which has first memory cells, and having a second deck which has second memory cells. The first memory cells have first control gate regions which include a first conductive material vertically between horizontally-extending bars of a second conductive material. The second memory cells have second control gate regions which include a fourth conductive material along an outer surface of a third conductive material. A pillar passes through the first and second decks. The pillar includes a dielectric-barrier material laterally surrounding a channel material. The first and fourth materials are directly against the dielectric-barrier material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Publication date: January 4, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin Dorhout, Nirup Bandaru, Damir Fazil, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jivaan Kishore Jhothiraman, Purnima Narayanan
  • Patent number: 11844202
    Abstract: A method used in forming integrated circuitry comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The first tiers comprise doped silicon dioxide and the second tiers comprise undoped silicon dioxide. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed into the stack. Through the trenches, the doped silicon dioxide that is in the first tiers is etched selectively relative to the undoped silicon dioxide that is in the second tiers. Conducting material is formed in the void space in the first tiers that is left by the etching. Structure independent of method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Purnima Narayanan
  • Patent number: 11744072
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first deck which has first memory cells, and having a second deck which has second memory cells. The first memory cells have first control gate regions which include a first conductive material vertically between horizontally-extending bars of a second conductive material. The second memory cells have second control gate regions which include a fourth conductive material along an outer surface of a third conductive material. A pillar passes through the first and second decks. The pillar includes a dielectric-barrier material laterally surrounding a channel material. The first and fourth materials are directly against the dielectric-barrier material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Justin B. Dorhout, Nirup Bandaru, Damir Fazil, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jivaan Kishore Jhothiraman, Purnima Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20230262981
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. The wordline levels have conductive terminal ends within control gate regions. The control gate regions are vertically spaced from one another by first insulative regions which include first insulative material. Charge-storage material is laterally outward of the conductive terminal ends, and is configured as segments. The segments of the charge-storage material are arranged one atop another and are vertically spaced from one another by second insulative regions which include second insulative material. The second insulative material has a different dielectric constant than the first insulative material. Charge-tunneling material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the segments of the charge-trapping material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the charge-tunneling material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Byeung Chul Kim, Francois H. Fabreguette, Richard J. Hill, Purnima Narayanan, Shyam Surthi
  • Patent number: 11672120
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. The wordline levels have conductive terminal ends within control gate regions. The control gate regions are vertically spaced from one another by first insulative regions which include first insulative material. Charge-storage material is laterally outward of the conductive terminal ends, and is configured as segments. The segments of the charge-storage material are arranged one atop another and are vertically spaced from one another by second insulative regions which include second insulative material. The second insulative material has a different dielectric constant than the first insulative material. Charge-tunneling material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the segments of the charge-trapping material. Channel material extends vertically along the stack, and is adjacent to the charge-tunneling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Byeung Chui Kim, Francois H. Fabreguette, Richard J. Hill, Purnima Narayanan, Shyam Surthi
  • Publication number: 20230088904
    Abstract: A method used in forming integrated circuitry comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The first tiers comprise doped silicon dioxide and the second tiers comprise undoped silicon dioxide. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed into the stack. Through the trenches, the doped silicon dioxide that is in the first tiers is etched selectively relative to the undoped silicon dioxide that is in the second tiers. Conducting material is formed in the void space in the first tiers that is left by the etching. Structure independent of method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Purnima Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20230039517
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a lower portion of a stack that will comprise vertically-alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers. The stack comprises laterally-spaced memory-block regions. The lower portion comprises multiple lower of the conductive tiers and multiple lower of the insulative tiers. The lower insulative tiers comprise insulative material. The lower conductive tiers comprise sacrificial material that is of different composition from that of the insulative material. The sacrificial material is replaced with conducting material. After the replacing of the sacrificial material, the vertically-alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers of an upper portion of the stack are formed above the lower portion. The upper portion comprises multiple upper of the conductive tiers and multiple upper of the insulative tiers. The upper insulative tiers comprise insulating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, John D. Hopkins, Purnima Narayanan, Vinayak Shamanna, Justin D. Shepherdson
  • Patent number: 11538819
    Abstract: A method used in forming integrated circuitry comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The first tiers comprise doped silicon dioxide and the second tiers comprise undoped silicon dioxide. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed into the stack. Through the trenches, the doped silicon dioxide that is in the first tiers is etched selectively relative to the undoped silicon dioxide that is in the second tiers. Conducting material is formed in the void space in the first tiers that is left by the etching. Structure independent of method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Purnima Narayanan
  • Publication number: 20220020759
    Abstract: A method used in forming integrated circuitry comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers. The first tiers comprise doped silicon dioxide and the second tiers comprise undoped silicon dioxide. Horizontally-elongated trenches are formed into the stack. Through the trenches, the doped silicon dioxide that is in the first tiers is etched selectively relative to the undoped silicon dioxide that is in the second tiers. Conducting material is formed in the void space in the first tiers that is left by the etching. Structure independent of method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Purnima Narayanan