Patents by Inventor Rita J. Klein

Rita J. Klein 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: 12096633
    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. Upper masses comprise first material laterally-between and longitudinally-spaced-along immediately-laterally-adjacent of the memory blocks and second material laterally-between and longitudinally-spaced-along the immediately-laterally-adjacent memory blocks longitudinally-between and under the upper masses. The second material is of different composition from that of the first material. The second material comprises insulative material. Other embodiments, including method, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Daniel Billingsley, Indra V. Chary, Rita J. Klein
  • Publication number: 20240290722
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one contact structure. The at least one contact structure comprises a contact, an insulating material overlying the contact, and at least one contact via in the insulating material. The at least one contact structure also comprises a dielectric liner material adjacent the insulating material within the contact via, a conductive material adjacent the dielectric liner material, and a stress compensation material adjacent the conductive material and in a central portion of the at least one contact via. The stress compensation material is at least partially surrounded by the conductive material. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming the apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Lifang Xu, Rita J. Klein, Xiao Li, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20240237336
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive expanse over conductive nodes. The conductive nodes include a first composition. A bottom surface of the conductive expanse includes a second composition which is different composition than the first composition. A stack is over the conductive expanse. The stack includes alternating first and second levels. Pillar structures extend vertically through the stack. Each of the pillar structures includes a post of conductive material laterally surrounded by an insulative liner. At least one of the posts extends through the conductive expanse to directly contact one of the conductive nodes. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventors: Shuangqiang Luo, Indra V. Chary, Justin B. Dorhout, Rita J. Klein
  • Patent number: 12034057
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and wordline levels. Channel material extends vertically along the stack. The wordline levels include conductive regions which have a first metal-containing material and a second metal-containing material. The first metal-containing material at least partially surrounds the second metal-containing material. The first metal-containing material has a different crystallinity than the second metal-containing material. In some embodiments the first metal-containing material is substantially amorphous, and the second metal-containing material has a mean grain size within a range of from greater than or equal to about 5 nm to less than or equal to about 200 nm. Charge-storage regions are adjacent the wordline levels. Charge-blocking regions are between the charge-storage regions and the conductive regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, John Mark Meldrim
  • Patent number: 12002759
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one contact structure. The at least one contact structure comprises a contact, an insulating material overlying the contact, and at least one contact via in the insulating material. The at least one contact structure also comprises a dielectric liner material adjacent the insulating material within the contact via, a conductive material adjacent the dielectric liner material, and a stress compensation material adjacent the conductive material and in a central portion of the at least one contact via. The stress compensation material is at least partially surrounded by the conductive material. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming the apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Lifang Xu, Rita J. Klein, Xiao Li, Everett A. McTeer
  • Patent number: 11990528
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and control gate levels. Channel material extends vertically along the stack. The control gate levels comprising conductive regions. The conductive regions include at least three different materials. Charge-storage regions are adjacent the control gate levels. Charge-blocking regions are between the charge-storage regions and the conductive regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, Rita J. Klein, Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, Brenda D. Kraus, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20240153877
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure, a staircase structure, conductive pad structures, and conductive contact structures. The stack structure includes vertically alternating conductive structures and insulating structures arranged in tiers. Each of the tiers individually includes one of the conductive structures and one of the insulating structures. The staircase structure has steps made up of edges of at least some of the tiers of the stack structure. The conductive pad structures are on the steps of the staircase structure and include beta phase tungsten. The conductive contact structures are on the conductive pad structures. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming microelectronic devices are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, Lifang Xu, Daniel Billingsley, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20240138146
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive expanse over conductive nodes. The conductive nodes include a first composition. A bottom surface of the conductive expanse includes a second composition which is different composition than the first composition. A stack is over the conductive expanse. The stack includes alternating first and second levels. Pillar structures extend vertically through the stack. Each of the pillar structures includes a post of conductive material laterally surrounded by an insulative liner. At least one of the posts extends through the conductive expanse to directly contact one of the conductive nodes. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Shuangqiang Luo, Indra V. Chary, Justin B. Dorhout, Rita J. Klein
  • Publication number: 20240107768
    Abstract: Electronic devices (e.g., semiconductor devices, which may be configured for 3D NAND memory devices), comprise pillars extending through a stack of alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers. The conductive tiers, which may include control gates for access lines (e.g., word lines), include conductive rails along an outer sidewall of the conductive tiers, distal from the pillars extending through the conductive tiers. The conductive rails protrude laterally beyond outer sidewalls of the insulative tiers. The conductive rails increase the amount of conductive material that may otherwise be in the conductive tiers, which may enable the conductive material to exhibit a lower electrical resistance, improving operational performance of the electronic devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Rita J. Klein, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Publication number: 20240071931
    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 above a conductor tier. Strings of memory cells comprising channel-material strings extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The conductor tier comprises upper conductor material directly above and directly against lower conductor material of different composition from that of the upper conductor material. A through-array-via (TAV) region is included and comprises TAVs individually comprising the upper conductor material, the lower conductor material, and a conducting material that is directly below the conductor tier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tom George, Rita J. Klein, Daniel Billingsley, Pengyuan Zheng, Yongjun Jeff Hu
  • Patent number: 11894305
    Abstract: A microelectronic device includes a stack structure, a staircase structure, conductive pad structures, and conductive contact structures. The stack structure includes vertically alternating conductive structures and insulating structures arranged in tiers. Each of the tiers individually includes one of the conductive structures and one of the insulating structures. The staircase structure has steps made up of edges of at least some of the tiers of the stack structure. The conductive pad structures are on the steps of the staircase structure and include beta phase tungsten. The conductive contact structures are on the conductive pad structures. Memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming microelectronic devices are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, John D. Hopkins, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, Lifang Xu, Daniel Billingsley, Collin Howder
  • Publication number: 20230397424
    Abstract: A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure, a memory pillar, and a boron-containing material. The stack structure comprises alternating conductive structures and dielectric structures. The memory pillar extends through the stack structure and defines memory cells at intersections of the memory pillar and the conductive structures. The boron-containing material is on at least a portion of the conductive structures of the stack structure. Related methods and electronic systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Everett A. McTeer, Rita J. Klein, John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli, Xiao Li, Christopher R. Ritchie, Alyssa N. Scarbrough, Jiewei Chen, Sijia Yu, Naiming Liu
  • Publication number: 20230395149
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming memory block regions individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Channel-material strings extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. The conductive tiers individually comprise a void-space extending laterally-across individual of the memory-block regions. At least one of conductive or semiconductive material is formed in the void-space laterally-outward of individual of the channel-material strings. Conductive molybdenum-containing metal material is formed in the void-space directly against the at least one of the conductive or the semiconductive material and a conductive line comprising the conductive molybdenum-containing metal material is formed therefrom. The at least one of the conductive or the semiconductive material is of different composition from that of the conductive molybdenum-containing metal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, David Ross Economy, John D. Hopkins, Nancy M. Lomeli, Jiewei Chen, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, Aaron P. Thurber
  • Patent number: 11812610
    Abstract: Electronic devices (e.g., semiconductor devices, which may be configured for 3D NAND memory devices), comprise pillars extending through a stack of alternating conductive tiers and insulative tiers. The conductive tiers, which may include control gates for access lines (e.g., word lines), include conductive rails along an outer sidewall of the conductive tiers, distal from the pillars extending through the conductive tiers. The conductive rails protrude laterally beyond outer sidewalls of the insulative tiers. The conductive rails increase the amount of conductive material that may otherwise be in the conductive tiers, which may enable the conductive material to exhibit a lower electrical resistance, improving operational performance of the electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Hopkins, Rita J. Klein, Jordan D. Greenlee
  • Patent number: 11800706
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive expanse over conductive nodes. The conductive nodes include a first composition. A bottom surface of the conductive expanse includes a second composition which is different composition than the first composition. A stack is over the conductive expanse. The stack includes alternating first and second levels. Pillar structures extend vertically through the stack. Each of the pillar structures includes a post of conductive material laterally surrounded by an insulative liner. At least one of the posts extends through the conductive expanse to directly contact one of the conductive nodes. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Shuangqiang Luo, Indra V. Chary, Justin B. Dorhout, Rita J. Klein
  • Patent number: 11791268
    Abstract: Described are methods for forming a tungsten conductive structure over a substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate. Described examples include forming a silicon-containing material, such as a doped silicon-containing material, over a supporting structure. The silicon-containing material is then subsequently converted to a tungsten seed material containing the dopant material. A tungsten fill material of lower resistance will then be formed over the tungsten seed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Christian George Emor, Travis Rampton, Everett Allen McTeer, Rita J. Klein
  • Publication number: 20230290721
    Abstract: A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming memory blocks individually comprising a vertical stack comprising alternating insulative tiers and conductive tiers. Individual of the conductive tiers comprise laterally-outer edges comprising conductive molybdenum-containing metal material extending horizontally-along its memory block. Channel-material strings extend through the insulative tiers and the conductive tiers. At least one of conductive or semiconductive material is formed extending horizontally-along the memory blocks laterally-outward of the laterally-outer edges comprising the conductive molybdenum-containing metal material that extends horizontally-along its memory block. Insulator material extending horizontally-along the memory blocks is formed laterally-outward of the at least one of the conductive or the semiconductive material that is laterally-outward of the laterally-outer edges comprising the conductive molybdenum-containing metal material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Jiewei Chen, Sijia Yu, Chieh Hsien Quek, Rita J. Klein, Nancy M. Lomeli
  • Patent number: 11742282
    Abstract: Some embodiments include conductive interconnects which include the first and second conductive materials, and which extend upwardly from a conductive structure. Some embodiments include integrated assemblies having conductive interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jordan D. Greenlee, Rita J. Klein, Everett A. McTeer, John D. Hopkins, Shuangqiang Luo, Song Kai Tan, Jing Wai Fong, Anurag Jindal, Chieh Hsien Quek
  • Patent number: 11705500
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a memory array having a vertical stack of alternating insulative levels and control gate levels. Channel material extends vertically along the stack. The control gate levels comprising conductive regions. The conductive regions include at least three different materials. Charge-storage regions are adjacent the control gate levels. Charge-blocking regions are between the charge-storage regions and the conductive regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David Ross Economy, Rita J. Klein, Jordan D. Greenlee, John Mark Meldrim, Brenda D. Kraus, Everett A. McTeer
  • Publication number: 20230207458
    Abstract: Bit lines having high electrical conductivity and low mutual capacitance and related apparatuses, computing systems, and methods are disclosed. An apparatus includes bit lines including copper, a low-k dielectric material between the bit lines, and air gaps between the bit lines. The low-k dielectric material mechanically supports the bit lines. A method of manufacturing a memory device includes forming a first electrically conductive material in bit line trenches of an electrically insulating material, removing portions of the electrically insulating material between the bit line trenches, conformally forming a low-k dielectric material on the first electrically conductive material and remaining portions of the electrically insulating material, and forming a subconformal dielectric material to form air gaps between the bit line trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Alyssa N. Scarbrough, David Ross Economy, Jay S. Brown, John D. Hopkins, Jordan D. Greenlee, Mithun Kumar Ramasahayam, Rita J. Klein