Patents by Inventor Rhett T. Brewer

Rhett T. Brewer 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: 10734491
    Abstract: Memory devices might include an array of memory cells and a control logic to control access of the array of memory cells, where a memory cell of the array of memory cells might include a first dielectric adjacent a semiconductor, a control gate, a second dielectric between the control gate and the first dielectric, and a charge storage structure between the first dielectric and the second dielectric, wherein the charge storage structure comprises a charge-storage material and a gettering agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20180350930
    Abstract: Memory devices might include an array of memory cells and a control logic to control access of the array of memory cells, where a memory cell of the array of memory cells might include a first dielectric adjacent a semiconductor, a control gate, a second dielectric between the control gate and the first dielectric, and a charge storage structure between the first dielectric and the second dielectric, wherein the charge storage structure comprises a charge-storage material and a gettering agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 10074724
    Abstract: Apparatus having a processor and a memory device in communication with the processor, the memory device including an array of memory cells and a control logic to control access of the array of memory cells, wherein the array of memory cells includes a memory cell having a first dielectric adjacent a semiconductor, a control gate, a second dielectric between the control gate and the first dielectric, and a charge storage structure between the first dielectric and the second dielectric, and wherein the charge storage structure includes a charge-storage material and a gettering agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20170062577
    Abstract: Apparatus having a processor and a memory device in communication with the processor, the memory device including an array of memory cells and a control logic to control access of the array of memory cells, wherein the array of memory cells includes a memory cell having a first dielectric adjacent a semiconductor, a control gate, a second dielectric between the control gate and the first dielectric, and a charge storage structure between the first dielectric and the second dielectric, and wherein the charge storage structure includes a charge-storage material and a gettering agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9576805
    Abstract: Memories, systems, and methods for forming memory cells are disclosed. One such memory cell includes a charge storage node that includes nanodots over a tunnel dielectric and a protective film over the nanodots. In another memory cell, the charge storage node includes nanodots that include a ruthenium alloy. Memory cells can include an inter-gate dielectric over the protective film or ruthenium alloy nanodots and a control gate over the inter-gate dielectric. The protective film and ruthenium alloy can be configured to protect at least some of the nanodots from vaporizing during formation of the inter-gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Matthew N. Rocklein, Rhett T. Brewer
  • Patent number: 9105665
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory cells including a charge storage structure having a gettering agent therein can be useful for non-volatile memory devices. Providing for gettering of oxygen from a charge-storage material of the charge storage structure can facilitate a mitigation of detrimental oxidation of the charge-storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20150200101
    Abstract: Memories, systems, and methods for forming memory cells are disclosed. One such memory cell includes a charge storage node that includes nanodots over a tunnel dielectric and a protective film over the nanodots. In another memory cell, the charge storage node includes nanodots that include a ruthenium alloy. Memory cells can include an inter-gate dielectric over the protective film or ruthenium alloy nanodots and a control gate over the inter-gate dielectric. The protective film and ruthenium alloy can be configured to protect at least some of the nanodots from vaporizing during formation of the inter-gate dielectric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: D.V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Matthew N. Rocklein, Rhett T. Brewer
  • Publication number: 20140264526
    Abstract: Methods of forming memory cells including a charge storage structure having a gettering agent therein can be useful for non-volatile memory devices. Providing for gettering of oxygen from a charge-storage material of the charge storage structure can facilitate a mitigation of detrimental oxidation of the charge-storage material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8748964
    Abstract: Memory cells including a charge storage structure having a gettering agent therein can be useful for non-volatile memory devices. Providing for gettering of oxygen from a charge-storage material of the charge storage structure can facilitate a mitigation of detrimental oxidation of the charge-storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8288811
    Abstract: Memories, systems, and methods for forming memory cells are disclosed. One such memory cell includes a charge storage node that includes nanodots over a tunnel dielectric and a protective film over the nanodots. In another memory cell, the charge storage node includes nanodots that include a ruthenium alloy. Memory cells can include an inter-gate dielectric over the protective film or ruthenium alloy nanodots and a control gate over the inter-gate dielectric. The protective film and ruthenium alloy can be configured to protect at least some of the nanodots from vaporizing during formation of the inter-gate dielectric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Matthew N. Rocklein, Rhett T. Brewer
  • Patent number: 8228743
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones spaced from one another by dielectric material. The dielectric material may comprise high-k material. One or more of the charge-trapping zones may comprise metallic material. Such metallic material may be present as a plurality of discrete isolated islands, such as nanodots. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells in which two charge-trapping zones are formed over tunnel dielectric, with the zones being vertically displaced relative to one another, and with the zone closest to the tunnel dielectric having deeper traps than the other zone. Some embodiments include electronic systems comprising memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of programming memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyu S. Min, Rhett T. Brewer, Tejas Krishnamohan, Thomas M. Graettinger, D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ronald A Weimer, Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Publication number: 20120098047
    Abstract: Memory cells including a charge storage structure having a gettering agent therein can be useful for non-volatile memory devices. Providing for gettering of oxygen from a charge-storage material of the charge storage structure can facilitate a mitigation of detrimental oxidation of the charge-storage material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Rhett T. Brewer, Durai V. Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20110133268
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones spaced from one another by dielectric material. The dielectric material may comprise high-k material. One or more of the charge-trapping zones may comprise metallic material. Such metallic material may be present as a plurality of discrete isolated islands, such as nanodots. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells in which two charge-trapping zones are formed over tunnel dielectric, with the zones being vertically displaced relative to one another, and with the zone closest to the tunnel dielectric having deeper traps than the other zone. Some embodiments include electronic systems comprising memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of programming memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kyu S. Min, Rhett T. Brewer, Tejas Krishnamohan, Thomas M. Graettinger, D.V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ronald A. Weimer, Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Patent number: 7898850
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones spaced from one another by dielectric material. The dielectric material may comprise high-k material. One or more of the charge-trapping zones may comprise metallic material. Such metallic material may be present as a plurality of discrete isolated islands, such as nanodots. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells in which two charge-trapping zones are formed over tunnel dielectric, with the zones being vertically displaced relative to one another, and with the zone closest to the tunnel dielectric having deeper traps than the other zone. Some embodiments include electronic systems comprising memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of programming memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyu S. Min, Rhett T. Brewer, Tejas Krishnamohan, Thomas M. Graettinger, D. V. Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ronald A. Weimer, Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Publication number: 20090097320
    Abstract: Some embodiments include memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones spaced from one another by dielectric material. The dielectric material may comprise high-k material. One or more of the charge-trapping zones may comprise metallic material. Such metallic material may be present as a plurality of discrete isolated islands, such as nanodots. Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells in which two charge-trapping zones are formed over tunnel dielectric, with the zones being vertically displaced relative to one another, and with the zone closest to the tunnel dielectric having deeper traps than the other zone. Some embodiments include electronic systems comprising memory cells. Some embodiments include methods of programming memory cells having vertically-stacked charge-trapping zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Kyu S. Min, Rhett T. Brewer, Tejas Krishnamohan, Thomas M. Graettinger, D. V. Ramaswamy, Ronald A. Weimer, Arup Bhattacharyya
  • Publication number: 20090001443
    Abstract: Disclosed is a non-volatile memory cell. The non-volatile memory cell includes a substrate having an active area. A bottom dielectric layer is disposed over the active area of the substrate which provides tunneling migration to the charge carriers towards the active area. A charge storage node is disposed above the bottom dielectric layer. Further, the non-volatile memory cell includes a plurality of top dielectric layers disposed above the charge storage node. Each of the plurality of top dielectric layers can be tuned with a set of attributes for reducing a leakage current through the plurality of top dielectric layers. Over the plurality of top dielectric layers, a control gate is disposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tejas Krishnamohan, Krishna Parat, Kyu Min, Rhett T. Brewer, Thomas M. Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy, M. Noel Rocklein