Patents by Inventor Ramakanth Alapati

Ramakanth Alapati 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).

  • Patent number: 8598043
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming isolation regions for semiconductor constructions. A hard mask can be formed and patterned over a semiconductor substrate, with the patterned hard mask exposing a region of the substrate. Such exposed region can be etched to form a first opening having a first width. The first opening is narrowed with a conformal layer of carbon-containing material. The conformal layer is punched through to expose substrate along a bottom of the narrowed opening. The exposed substrate is removed to form a second opening which joins to the first opening, and which has a second width less than the first width. The carbon-containing material is then removed from within the first opening, and electrically insulative material is formed within the first and second openings. The electrically insulative material can substantially fill the first opening, and leave a void within the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 8598632
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having differently-sized features wherein the smaller features have a pitch multiplied relationship with the larger features, which are of such size as to be formed by conventional lithography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Round Rock Research LLC
    Inventors: Luan Tran, William T. Rericha, John Lee, Ramakanth Alapati, Sheron Honarkhah, Shuang Meng, Puneet Sharma, Jingyi Bai, Zhiping Yin, Paul Morgan, Mirzafer K. Abatchev, Gurtej S. Sandhu, D. Mark Durcan
  • Publication number: 20130277854
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes providing a substrate including an active device, forming a through silicon via into the substrate, forming a device contact to the active device, forming a conductive layer over the through silicon via and the device contact, and forming a connecting via structure for electrically connecting the conductive layer with the through silicon via. An integrated circuit device includes a through silicon via formed into a substrate silicon material, a conductive layer formed over the through silicon via, and a connecting via structure formed between the conductive layer and the through silicon via for electrically connecting the conductive layer with the through silicon via. The connecting via structure comprises a first series of via bars intersected with a second series of via bars.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES INC.
    Inventors: Chun Yu Wong, Ramakanth Alapati, Teck Jung Tang
  • Patent number: 8431456
    Abstract: Some embodiments include formation of polymer spacers along sacrificial material, removal of the sacrificial material, and utilization of the polymer spacers as masks during fabrication of integrated circuitry. The polymer spacer masks may, for example, be utilized to pattern flash gates of a flash memory array. In some embodiments, the polymer is simultaneously formed across large sacrificial structures and small sacrificial structures. The polymer is thicker across the large sacrificial structures than across the small sacrificial structures, and such difference in thickness is utilized to fabricate high density structures and low-density structures with a single photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8338959
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises patterning a layer of photoresist material to form a plurality of mandrels. The method further comprises depositing an oxide material over the plurality of mandrels by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further comprises anisotropically etching the oxide material from exposed horizontal surfaces. The method further comprises selectively etching photoresist material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ardavan Niroomand, Baosuo Zhou, Ramakanth Alapati
  • Publication number: 20120256309
    Abstract: An integrated circuit having differently-sized features wherein the smaller features have a pitch multiplied relationship with the larger features, which are of such size as to be formed by conventional lithography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Luan Tran, William T. Rericha, John Lee, Ramakanth Alapati, Sheron Honarkhah, Shuang Meng, Puneet Sharma, Jingyi (Jenny) Bai, Zhiping Yin, Paul Morgan, Mirzafer K. Abatchev, Gurtej S. Sandhu, D. Mark Durcan
  • Publication number: 20120238077
    Abstract: Some embodiments include formation of polymer spacers along sacrificial material, removal of the sacrificial material, and utilization of the polymer spacers as masks during fabrication of integrated circuitry. The polymer spacer masks may, for example, be utilized to pattern flash gates of a flash memory array. In some embodiments, the polymer is simultaneously formed across large sacrificial structures and small sacrificial structures. The polymer is thicker across the large sacrificial structures than across the small sacrificial structures, and such difference in thickness is utilized to fabricate high density structures and low-density structures with a single photomask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8207576
    Abstract: Differently-sized features of an integrated circuit are formed by etching a substrate using a mask which is formed by combining two separately formed patterns. Pitch multiplication is used to form the relatively small features of the first pattern and conventional photolithography used to form the relatively large features of the second pattern. Pitch multiplication is accomplished by patterning a photoresist and then etching that pattern into an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall spacers are then formed on the sidewalls of the amorphous carbon. The amorphous carbon is removed, leaving behind the sidewall spacers, which define the first mask pattern. A bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is then deposited around the spacers to form a planar surface and a photoresist layer is formed over the BARC. The photoresist is next patterned by conventional photolithography to form the second pattern, which is then is transferred to the BARC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Luan Tran, William T Rericha, John Lee, Ramakanth Alapati, Sheron Honarkhah, Shuang Meng, Puneet Sharma, Jingyi Bai, Zhiping Yin, Paul Morgan, Mirzafer K Abatchev, Gurtej S Sandhu, D. Mark Durcan
  • Patent number: 8207570
    Abstract: Some embodiments include formation of polymer spacers along sacrificial material, removal of the sacrificial material, and utilization of the polymer spacers as masks during fabrication of integrated circuitry. The polymer spacer masks may, for example, be utilized to pattern flash gates of a flash memory array. In some embodiments, the polymer is simultaneously formed across large sacrificial structures and small sacrificial structures. The polymer is thicker across the large sacrificial structures than across the small sacrificial structures, and such difference in thickness is utilized to fabricate high density structures and low-density structures with a single photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 8143167
    Abstract: Trench isolation structures and methods to form same for use in the manufacture of semiconductor devices are described. The trench isolation structures are formed using several processing schemes that utilize disclosed dry etching processes to form a significant depth ? between an array trench depth and a periphery trench depth. One etching method creates a trench delta depth utilizing a single dry etch step, while two other etching methods create a trench ? depth by utilizing three dry etch steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaolong Fang, Ramakanth Alapati, Tuman E. Allen
  • Patent number: 8119535
    Abstract: Differently-sized features of an integrated circuit are formed by etching a substrate using a mask which is formed by combining two separately formed patterns. Pitch multiplication is used to form the relatively small features of the first pattern and conventional photolithography used to form the relatively large features of the second pattern. Pitch multiplication is accomplished by patterning a photoresist and then etching that pattern into an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall spacers are then formed on the sidewalls of the amorphous carbon. The amorphous carbon is removed, leaving behind the sidewall spacers, which define the first mask pattern. A bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is then deposited around the spacers to form a planar surface and a photoresist layer is formed over the BARC. The photoresist is next patterned by conventional photolithography to form the second pattern, which is then is transferred to the BARC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Luan Tran, William T Rericha, John Lee, Ramakanth Alapati, Sheron Honarkhah, Shuang Meng, Puneet Sharma, Jingyi Bai, Zhiping Yin, Paul Morgan, Mirzafer K Abatchev, Gurtej S Sandhu, D. Mark Durcan
  • Publication number: 20110316114
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises patterning a layer of photoresist material to form a plurality of mandrels. The method further comprises depositing an oxide material over the plurality of mandrels by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further comprises anisotropically etching the oxide material from exposed horizontal surfaces. The method further comprises selectively etching photoresist material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ardavan Niroomand, Baosuo Zhou, Ramakanth Alapati
  • Patent number: 8048812
    Abstract: Differently-sized features of an integrated circuit are formed by etching a substrate using a mask which is formed by combining two separately formed patterns. Pitch multiplication is used to form the relatively small features of the first pattern. Pitch multiplication is accomplished by patterning an amorphous carbon layer. Sidewall spacers are then formed on the amorphous carbon sidewalls which are then removed; the sidewall spacers defining the first mask pattern. A bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) is then deposited to form a planar surface and a photoresist layer is formed over the BARC. The photoresist is next patterned by conventional photolithography to form the second pattern, which is transferred to the BARC. The combined pattern is transferred to an underlying amorphous silicon layer. The combined pattern is then transferred to the silicon oxide layer and then to an amorphous carbon mask layer. The combined mask pattern, is then etched into the underlying substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Luan Tran, William T. Rericha, John Lee, Ramakanth Alapati, Sheron Honarkhah, Shuang Meng, Puneet Sharma, Jingyi Bai, Zhiping Yin, Paul Morgan, Mirzafer K. Abatchev, Gurtej S. Sandhu, D. Mark Durcan
  • Patent number: 8030217
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises patterning a layer of photoresist material to form a plurality of mandrels. The method further comprises depositing an oxide material over the plurality of mandrels by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. The method further comprises anisotropically etching the oxide material from exposed horizontal surfaces. The method further comprises selectively etching photoresist material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ardavan Niroomand, Baosuo Zhou, Ramakanth Alapati
  • Patent number: 7902074
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a semiconductor device comprises patterning a layer of photoresist material to form a plurality of mandrels in a device array region. The method further comprises depositing an oxide material over the plurality of mandrels and over a device peripheral region. The method further comprises forming a pattern of photoresist material over the oxide material in the device peripheral region. The method further comprises anisotropically etching the oxide material from exposed horizontal surfaces in the device array region. The method further comprises selectively etching photoresist material from the device array region and from the device peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ardavan Niroomand, Baosuo Zhou, Ramakanth Alapati
  • Publication number: 20110008970
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming isolation regions for semiconductor constructions. A hard mask can be formed and patterned over a semiconductor substrate, with the patterned hard mask exposing a region of the substrate. Such exposed region can be etched to form a first opening having a first width. The first opening is narrowed with a conformal layer of carbon-containing material. The conformal layer is punched through to expose substrate along a bottom of the narrowed opening. The exposed substrate is removed to form a second opening which joins to the first opening, and which has a second width less than the first width. The carbon-containing material is then removed from within the first opening, and electrically insulative material is formed within the first and second openings The electrically insulative material can substantially fill the first opening, and leave a void within the second opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7867843
    Abstract: A process may include forming a polysilicon pinnacle above and on a polysilicon island and further forming a floating gate from the polysilicon pinnacle and polysilicon island. The floating gate can bear an inverted T-shape. The floating gate can also be disposed above an isolated semiconductive substrate such as in a shallow-trench isolation semiconductive substrate. Electronic devices may include the floating gate as part of a field effect transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand
  • Publication number: 20100295114
    Abstract: Some embodiments include formation of polymer spacers along sacrificial material, removal of the sacrificial material, and utilization of the polymer spacers as masks during fabrication of integrated circuitry. The polymer spacer masks may, for example, be utilized to pattern flash gates of a flash memory array. In some embodiments, the polymer is simultaneously formed across large sacrificial structures and small sacrificial structures. The polymer is thicker across the large sacrificial structures than across the small sacrificial structures, and such difference in thickness is utilized to fabricate high density structures and low-density structures with a single photomask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 7799694
    Abstract: The invention includes methods of forming isolation regions for semiconductor constructions. A hard mask can be formed and patterned over a semiconductor substrate, with the patterned hard mask exposing a region of the substrate. Such exposed region can be etched to form a first opening having a first width. The first opening is narrowed with a conformal layer of carbon-containing material. The conformal layer is punched through to expose substrate along a bottom of the narrowed opening. The exposed substrate is removed to form a second opening which joins to the first opening, and which has a second width less than the first width. The carbon-containing material is then removed from within the first opening, and electrically insulative material is formed within the first and second openings. The electrically insulative material can substantially fill the first opening, and leave a void within the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Luan C. Tran
  • Patent number: 7790360
    Abstract: Some embodiments include formation of polymer spacers along sacrificial material, removal of the sacrificial material, and utilization of the polymer spacers as masks during fabrication of integrated circuitry. The polymer spacer masks may, for example, be utilized to pattern flash gates of a flash memory array. In some embodiments, the polymer is simultaneously formed across large sacrificial structures and small sacrificial structures. The polymer is thicker across the large sacrificial structures than across the small sacrificial structures, and such difference in thickness is utilized to fabricate high density structures and low-density structures with a single photomask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakanth Alapati, Ardavan Niroomand, Gurtej S. Sandhu