Patents by Inventor Sandra Tagg

Sandra Tagg 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: 8969217
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of treating semiconductor substrates. The substrates may be exposed to one or more conditions that vary continuously. The conditions may include temperature gradients, concentration gradients of one or more compositions that quench etchant, pH gradients to assist in removing particles, and/or concentration gradients of one or more compositions that assist in removing particles. The continuously varying conditions may be imparted by placing the semiconductor substrates in a bath of flowing rinsing solution, with the bath having at least two feed lines that provide the rinsing solution therein. One of the feed lines may be at a first condition, and the other may be at a second condition that is different from the first condition. The relative amount of rinsing solution provided to the bath by each feed line may be varied to continuously vary the condition within the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Fucsko, Niraj B. Rana, Sandra Tagg, Robert J. Hanson, Gundu M. Sabde, Donald L. Yates, Patrick M. Flynn, Prashant Raghu, Kyle Grant
  • Patent number: 8685625
    Abstract: A photoresist processing method includes treating a substrate with a sulfur-containing substance. A positive-tone photoresist is applied on and in contact with the treated substrate. The method includes selectively exposing a portion of the photoresist to actinic energy and developing the photoresist to remove the exposed portion and to form a photoresist pattern on the substrate. The treating with a sulfur-containing substance reduces an amount of residual photoresist intended for removal compared to an amount of residual photoresist that remains without the treating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Torek, Todd R. Abbott, Sandra Tagg, Amy Weatherly
  • Publication number: 20140027913
    Abstract: Semiconductor devices have conductive material lining a first opening in an insulative material and in contact with a metal silicide layer at the base of the opening overlying an active area within a silicon material and lining a second opening in the insulative material in direct contact with a polysilicon plug having substantially no metal silicide situated thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence McDaniel, Sandra Tagg, Fred Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20130302995
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of treating semiconductor substrates. The substrates may be exposed to one or more conditions that vary continuously. The conditions may include temperature gradients, concentration gradients of one or more compositions that quench etchant, pH gradients to assist in removing particles, and/or concentration gradients of one or more compositions that assist in removing particles. The continuously varying conditions may be imparted by placing the semiconductor substrates in a bath of flowing rinsing solution, with the bath having at least two feed lines that provide the rinsing solution therein. One of the feed lines may be at a first condition, and the other may be at a second condition that is different from the first condition. The relative amount of rinsing solution provided to the bath by each feed line may be varied to continuously vary the condition within the bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Fucsko, Niraj B. Rana, Sandra Tagg, Robert J. Hanson, Gundu M. Sabde, Donald L. Yates, Patrick M. Flynn, Prashant Raghu, Kyle Grant
  • Patent number: 8580666
    Abstract: Methods for forming memory devices and integrated circuitry, for example, DRAM (dynamic random access memory) circuitry, structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence McDaniel, Sandra Tagg, Fred Fishburn
  • Patent number: 8492288
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of treating semiconductor substrates. The substrates may be exposed to one or more conditions that vary continuously. The conditions may include temperature gradients, concentration gradients of one or more compositions that quench etchant, pH gradients to assist in removing particles, and/or concentration gradients of one or more compositions that assist in removing particles. The continuously varying conditions may be imparted by placing the semiconductor substrates in a bath of flowing rinsing solution, with the bath having at least two feed lines that provide the rinsing solution therein. One of the feed lines may be at a first condition, and the other may be at a second condition that is different from the first condition. The relative amount of rinsing solution provided to the bath by each feed line may be varied to continuously vary the condition within the bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Janos Fucsko, Niraj B. Rana, Sandra Tagg, Robert J. Hanson, Gundu M. Sabde, Donald L. Yates, Patrick M. Flynn, Prashant Raghu, Kyle Grant
  • Publication number: 20130017494
    Abstract: A photoresist processing method includes treating a substrate with a sulfur-containing substance. A positive-tone photoresist is applied on and in contact with the treated substrate. The method includes selectively exposing a portion of the photoresist to actinic energy and developing the photoresist to remove the exposed portion and to form a photoresist pattern on the substrate. The treating with a sulfur-containing substance reduces an amount of residual photoresist intended for removal compared to an amount of residual photoresist that remains without the treating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Torek, Todd R. Abbott, Sandra Tagg, Amy Weatherly
  • Patent number: 8283112
    Abstract: A photoresist processing method includes treating a substrate with a sulfur-containing substance. A positive-tone photoresist is applied on and in contact with the treated substrate. The method includes selectively exposing a portion of the photoresist to actinic energy and developing the photoresist to remove the exposed portion and to form a photoresist pattern on the substrate. The treating with a sulfur-containing substance reduces an amount of residual photoresist intended for removal compared to an amount of residual photoresist that remains without the treating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Torek, Todd R. Abbott, Sandra Tagg, Amy Weatherly
  • Publication number: 20120025385
    Abstract: Methods for forming memory devices and integrated circuitry, for example, DRAM circuitry, structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Terrence McDaniel, Sandra Tagg, Fred Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20110244404
    Abstract: A photoresist processing method includes treating a substrate with a sulfur-containing substance. A positive-tone photoresist is applied on and in contact with the treated substrate. The method includes selectively exposing a portion of the photoresist to actinic energy and developing the photoresist to remove the exposed portion and to form a photoresist pattern on the substrate. The treating with a sulfur-containing substance reduces an amount of residual photoresist intended for removal compared to an amount of residual photoresist that remains without the treating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Torek, Todd R. Abbott, Sandra Tagg, Amy Weatherly
  • Patent number: 8026542
    Abstract: Methods for forming memory devices and integrated circuitry, for example, DRAM circuitry, structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence McDaniel, Sandra Tagg, Fred Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20110159698
    Abstract: A photoresist processing method includes treating a substrate with a sulfur-containing substance. A positive-tone photoresist is applied on and in contact with the treated substrate. The method includes selectively exposing a portion of the photoresist to actinic energy and developing the photoresist to remove the exposed portion and to form a photoresist pattern on the substrate. The treating with a sulfur-containing substance reduces an amount of residual photoresist intended for removal compared to an amount of residual photoresist that remains without the treating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Torek, Todd Abbott, Sandra Tagg, Amy Weatherly
  • Publication number: 20090305511
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of treating semiconductor substrates. The substrates may be exposed to one or more conditions that vary continuously. The conditions may include temperature gradients, concentration gradients of one or more compositions that quench etchant, pH gradients to assist in removing particles, and/or concentration gradients of one or more compositions that assist in removing particles. The continuously varying conditions may be imparted by placing the semiconductor substrates in a bath of flowing rinsing solution, with the bath having at least two feed lines that provide the rinsing solution therein. One of the feed lines may be at a first condition, and the other may be at a second condition that is different from the first condition. The relative amount of rinsing solution provided to the bath by each feed line may be varied to continuously vary the condition within the bath.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Janos Fucsko, Niraj B. Rana, Sandra Tagg, Robert J. Hanson, Gundu M. Sabde, Donald L. Yates, Patrick M. Flynn, Prashani Raghu, Kyle Grant
  • Patent number: 7605033
    Abstract: Methods for forming memory devices and integrated circuitry, for example, DRAM circuitry, structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided. In some embodiments, the method includes forming a metallized contact to an active area in a silicon substrate in a peripheral circuitry area and a metallized contact to a polysilicon plug in a memory cell array area by forming a first opening to expose the active area at the peripheral circuitry area, chemical vapor depositing a titanium layer over the dielectric layer and into the first opening to form a titanium silicide layer over the active area in the silicon substrate, removing the titanium layer selective to the titanium silicide layer, forming a second opening in the dielectric layer to expose the polysilicon plug at the memory cell array area, and forming metal contacts within the first and second openings to the active area and the exposed polysilicon plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence McDaniel, Sandra Tagg, Fred Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20060289918
    Abstract: Methods for forming memory devices and integrated circuitry, for example, DRAM circuitry, structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 28, 2006
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence McDaniel, Sandra Tagg, Fred Fishburn
  • Publication number: 20060046398
    Abstract: Methods for forming memory devices and integrated circuitry, for example, DRAM circuitry, structures and devices resulting from such methods, and systems that incorporate the devices are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terrence McDaniel, Sandra Tagg, Fred Fishburn