Patents by Inventor Richard J. Hill

Richard J. Hill 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: 11527550
    Abstract: A memory array comprises a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and wordline tiers. The wordline tiers comprise gate regions of individual memory cells. The gate regions individually comprise part of a wordline in individual of the wordline tiers. Channel material extends elevationally through the insulative tiers and the wordline tiers. The individual memory cells comprise a memory structure laterally between the gate region and the channel material. Individual of the wordlines comprise opposing laterally-outer longitudinal edges. The longitudinal edges individually comprise a longitudinally-elongated recess extending laterally into the respective individual wordline. Methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Changhan Kim, Richard J. Hill, John D. Hopkins, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20220384242
    Abstract: A method of forming an apparatus includes forming pillar structures extending vertically through a first isolation material, forming conductive lines operatively coupled to the pillar structures, forming dielectric structures overlying the conductive lines, and forming air gaps between neighboring conductive lines. The air gaps are laterally adjacent to the conductive lines with a portion of the air gaps extending above a plane of an upper surface of the laterally adjacent conductive lines and a portion of the air gaps extending below a plane of a lower surface of the laterally adjacent conductive lines. Apparatuses, memory devices, methods of forming a memory device, and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Sidhartha Gupta, David Ross Economy, Richard J. Hill, Kyle A. Ritter, Naveen Kaushik
  • Patent number: 11514953
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a pair of adjacent memory-block-regions, and having a separator structure between the adjacent memory-block-regions. The memory-block-regions include a first stack of alternating conductive levels and first insulative levels. The separator structure includes a second stack of alternating second and third insulative levels. The second insulative levels are substantially horizontally aligned with the conductive levels, and the third insulative levels are substantially horizontally aligned with the first insulative levels. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Paolo Tessariol, David H. Wells, Lars P. Heineck, Richard J. Hill, Lifang Xu, Indra V. Chary, Emilio Camerlenghi
  • Publication number: 20220320136
    Abstract: A memory array comprises vertically-alternating tiers of insulative material and memory cells. The memory cells individually comprise a transistor comprising first and second source/drain regions having a channel region there-between and a gate operatively proximate the channel region. The individual memory cells comprise a capacitor comprising first and second electrodes having a capacitor insulator there-between. The first electrode electrically couples to the first source/drain region. Wordline structures extend elevationally through the insulative material and the memory cells of the vertically-alternating tiers. Individual of the gates that are in different of the memory cell tiers directly electrically couple to individual of the wordline structures. Sense-lines electrically couple to multiple of the second source/drain regions of individual of the transistors. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Richard J. Hill, Yi Fang Lee, Martin C. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220310637
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated transistor having an active region comprising semiconductor material. A conductive gating structure is adjacent to the active region. The conductive gating structure includes an inner region proximate the active region and includes an outer region distal from the active region. The inner region includes a first material containing titanium and nitrogen, and the outer region includes a metal-containing second material. The second material has a higher conductivity than the first material. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Michael Lowe, Zhuo Chen, Marko Milojevic, Timothy A. Quick, Richard J. Hill, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20220310831
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive structure, an annular structure extending through the conductive structure, and an active-material-structure lining an interior periphery of the annular structure. The annular structure includes dielectric material. The active-material-structure includes two-dimensional-material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Hwang, John F. Kaeding, Richard J. Hill, Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 11456208
    Abstract: A method of forming an apparatus includes forming pillar structures extending vertically through a first isolation material, forming conductive lines operatively coupled to the pillar structures, forming dielectric structures overlying the conductive lines, and forming air gaps between neighboring conductive lines. The air gaps are laterally adjacent to the conductive lines with a portion of the air gaps extending above a plane of an upper surface of the laterally adjacent conductive lines and a portion of the air gaps extending below a plane of a lower surface of the laterally adjacent conductive lines. Apparatuses, memory devices, methods of forming a memory device, and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidhartha Gupta, David Ross Economy, Richard J. Hill, Kyle A. Ritter, Naveen Kaushik
  • Publication number: 20220262820
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices include a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of insulative structures and conductive structures arranged in tiers. A series of pillars extends through the stack structure. At least one isolation structure extends through an upper stack portion of the stack structure. The at least one isolation structure protrudes into pillars of neighboring columns of pillars of the series of pillars. Conductive contacts are in electrical communication with the pillars into which the at least one isolation structure protrudes. Related methods and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Matthew J. King, David A. Daycock, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Albert Fayrushin, Richard J. Hill, Chandra S. Tiwari, Jun Fujiki
  • Patent number: 11404440
    Abstract: A memory array comprises vertically-alternating tiers of insulative material and memory cells. The memory cells individually comprise a transistor comprising first and second source/drain regions having a channel region there-between and a gate operatively proximate the channel region. The individual memory cells comprise a capacitor comprising first and second electrodes having a capacitor insulator there-between. The first electrode electrically couples to the first source/drain region. Wordline structures extend elevationally through the insulative material and the memory cells of the vertically-alternating tiers. Individual of the gates that are in different of the memory cell tiers directly electrically couple to individual of the wordline structures. Sense-lines electrically couple to multiple of the second source/drain regions of individual of the transistors. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sanh D. Tang, Richard J. Hill, Yi Fang Lee, Martin C. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220238684
    Abstract: Electronic devices comprising a doped dielectric material adjacent to a source contact, tiers of alternating conductive materials and dielectric materials adjacent to the doped dielectric material, and pillars extending through the tiers, the doped dielectric material, and the source contact and into the source stack. Related methods and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Michael A. Lindemann, Collin Howder, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Richard J. Hill
  • Patent number: 11393920
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive structure, an annular structure extending through the conductive structure, and an active-material-structure lining an interior periphery of the annular structure. The annular structure includes dielectric material. The active-material-structure includes two-dimensional-material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Hwang, John F. Kaeding, Richard J. Hill, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20220199641
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure comprising a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers, the stack structure divided into block structures separated from one another by slot structures, strings of memory cells vertically extending through the block structures of the stack structure, the strings of memory cells individually comprising a channel material vertically extending through the stack structure, an additional stack structure vertically overlying the stack structure and comprising a vertical sequence of additional conductive structures and additional insulative structures arranged in additional tiers, first pillars extending through the additional stack structure and vertically overlying the strings of memory cells, each of the first pillars horizontally offset from a center of a corresponding string of memory cells, second pillars extending through the additional stack structure and vertically ove
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Jun Fujiki, Matthew J. King, Sidhartha Gupta, Paolo Tessariol, Kunal Shrotri, Kye Hyun Baek, Kyle A. Ritter, Shuji Tanaka, Umberto Maria Meotto, Richard J. Hill, Matthew Holland
  • Publication number: 20220199645
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an assembly (e.g., a memory array). A first opening is formed through a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels contain silicon nitride, and the second levels contain silicon dioxide. Some of the silicon dioxide of the second levels is replaced with memory cell structures. The memory cell structures include charge-storage regions adjacent charge-blocking regions. Tunneling material is formed within the first opening, and channel material is formed adjacent the tunneling material. A second opening is formed through the stack. The second opening extends through remaining portions of the silicon dioxide, and through the silicon nitride. The remaining portions of the silicon dioxide are removed to form cavities. Conductive regions are formed within the cavities. The silicon nitride is removed to form voids between the conductive regions. Some embodiments include memory arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Changhan Kim, Chet E. Carter, Cole Smith, Collin Howder, Richard J. Hill, Jie Li
  • Publication number: 20220181254
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having channel-material-structures, and having memory cells along the channel-material-structures. The memory cells include charge-storage-material. Linear-conductive-structures are vertically offset from the channel-material-structures and are electrically coupled with the channel-material-structures. Intervening regions are between the linear-conductive-structures. Conductive-shield-structures are within the intervening regions. The conductive-shield-structures are electrically coupled with a reference-voltage-source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Naveen Kaushik, Yoshihiko Kamata, Richard J. Hill, Kyle A. Ritter, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Haitao Liu
  • Publication number: 20220173123
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array which has a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. A channel material extends vertically along the stack. The channel material includes a semiconductor composition and has first segments alternating with second segments. The first segments are adjacent the wordline levels and the second segments are adjacent the insulative levels. The first segments have a first dopant distribution and the second segments have a second dopant distribution which is different from the first dopant distribution. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Byeung Chul Kim, Richard J. Hill, Francois H. Fabreguette, Gurtej S. Sandhu
  • Patent number: 11322516
    Abstract: Microelectronic devices include a stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of insulative structures and conductive structures arranged in tiers. A series of pillars extends through the stack structure. At least one isolation structure extends through an upper stack portion of the stack structure. The at least one isolation structure protrudes into pillars of neighboring columns of pillars of the series of pillars. Conductive contacts are in electrical communication with the pillars into which the at least one isolation structure protrudes. Related methods and electronic systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. King, David A. Daycock, Yoshiaki Fukuzumi, Albert Fayrushin, Richard J. Hill, Chandra S. Tiwari, Jun Fujiki
  • Publication number: 20220123018
    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: December 23, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyam Surthi, Davide Resnati, Paolo Tessariol, Richard J. Hill, John D. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11302708
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method of forming an assembly (e.g., a memory array). A first opening is formed through a stack of alternating first and second levels. The first levels contain silicon nitride, and the second levels contain silicon dioxide. Some of the silicon dioxide of the second levels is replaced with memory cell structures. The memory cell structures include charge-storage regions adjacent charge-blocking regions. Tunneling material is formed within the first opening, and channel material is formed adjacent the tunneling material. A second opening is formed through the stack. The second opening extends through remaining portions of the silicon dioxide, and through the silicon nitride. The remaining portions of the silicon dioxide are removed to form cavities. Conductive regions are formed within the cavities. The silicon nitride is removed to form voids between the conductive regions. Some embodiments include memory arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Changhan Kim, Chet E. Carter, Cole Smith, Collin Howder, Richard J. Hill, Jie Li
  • Patent number: 11302628
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having channel-material-structures, and having memory cells along the channel-material-structures. The memory cells include charge-storage-material. Linear-conductive-structures are vertically offset from the channel-material-structures and are electrically coupled with the channel-material-structures. Intervening regions are between the linear-conductive-structures. Conductive-shield-structures are within the intervening regions. The conductive-shield-structures are electrically coupled with a reference-voltage-source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Naveen Kaushik, Yoshihiko Kamata, Richard J. Hill, Kyle A. Ritter, Tomoko Ogura Iwasaki, Haitao Liu
  • Publication number: 20220102539
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive structure, an annular structure extending through the conductive structure, and an active-material-structure lining an interior periphery of the annular structure. The annular structure includes dielectric material. The active-material-structure includes two-dimensional-material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Hwang, John F. Kaeding, Richard J. Hill, Scott E. Sills