Patents by Inventor Scott E. Sills

Scott E. Sills 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).

  • Publication number: 20220068933
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for a three-node access device in vertical three-dimensional (3D) memory. An example method includes a method for forming arrays of vertically stacked memory cells, having horizontally oriented access devices and vertically oriented access lines. The method includes depositing alternating layers of a dielectric material and a sacrificial material to form a vertical stack. Forming a plurality of first vertical openings to form elongated vertical, pillar columns with sidewalls in the vertical stack. Conformally depositing a gate dielectric in the plurality of first vertical openings. Forming a conductive material on the gate dielectric. Removing portions of the conductive material to form a plurality of separate, vertical access lines. Repairing a first side of the gate dielectric exposed where the conductive material was removed. Forming a second vertical opening to expose sidewalls adjacent a first region of the sacrificial material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: John A. Smythe III, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Armin Saeedi Vahdat, Si-Woo Lee, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20220069083
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a transistor having an active region containing semiconductor material. The semiconductor material includes at least one element selected from Group 13 of the periodic table in combination with at least one element selected from Group 16 of the periodic table. The active region has a first region, a third region offset from the first region, and a second region between the first and third regions. A gating structure is operatively adjacent to the second region. A first carrier-concentration-gradient is within the first region, and a second carrier-concentration-gradient is within the third region. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Pulugurtha, Jaydip Guha, Scott E. Sills, Yi Fang Lee
  • Patent number: 11264377
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a stack structure comprising decks. Each deck of the stack structure comprises a memory element level comprising memory elements and control logic level in electrical communication with the memory element level, the control logic level comprising a first subdeck structure comprising a first number of transistors comprising a P-type channel region or an N-type channel region and a second subdeck structure comprising a second number of transistors comprising the other of the P-type channel region or the N-type channel region overlying the first subdeck structure. Related semiconductor devices and methods of forming the semiconductor devices are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt D. Beigel, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20220059693
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having an access device between a storage element and a conductive structure. The access device has channel material which includes semiconductor material. The channel material has a first end and an opposing second end, and has a side extending from the first end to the second end. The first end is adjacent the conductive structure, and the second end is adjacent the storage element. Conductive gate material is adjacent the side of the channel material. A first domed metal-containing cap is over the conductive structure and under the channel material and/or a second domed metal-containing cap is over the channel material and under the storage element. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2020
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Nakamura, Yi Fang Lee, Jerome A. Imonigie, Scott E. Sills, Aaron Michael Lowe
  • Publication number: 20220045062
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for storage node after horizontally oriented, three-node access device formation in vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. An example method includes a method for forming arrays of vertically stacked memory cells, having horizontally oriented access devices and vertically oriented access lines. The method includes depositing alternating layers of a dielectric material and a sacrificial material to form a vertical stack. A plurality of first vertical openings are formed through the vertical stack to form elongated vertical, pillar columns with sidewalls in the vertical stack. A first conductive material is conformally deposited on a gate dielectric material in the first vertical openings. Portions of the first conductive material are removed to form a plurality of separate, vertical access lines along the sidewalls of the elongated vertical, pillar columns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Armin Saeedi Vahdat, John A. Smythe III, Si-Woo Lee, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20220045060
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for a three-node access device in vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. An example method includes a method for forming arrays of vertically stacked memory cells, having horizontally oriented access devices and vertically oriented access lines. The method includes depositing alternating layers of a dielectric material and a sacrificial material in repeating iterations to form a vertical stack. An etchant process is used to form a first vertical opening exposing vertical sidewalls in the vertical stack adjacent a first region. The first region is selectively etched to form a first horizontal opening removing the sacrificial material a first horizontal distance back from the first vertical opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, John A. Smythe, III, Si-Woo Lee, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Armin Saeedi Vahdat
  • Publication number: 20220045061
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for a three-node access device in vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. An example method includes a method for forming arrays of vertically stacked memory cells, having horizontally oriented access devices and vertically oriented access lines. The three-node access devices include a first source/drain region (1) and a second source/drain region (2) separated by a channel and gates (3) opposing the channel, but do not have a direct, electrical body contact to a body region and/or channel of the access devices. The method includes depositing alternating layers of a dielectric material and a sacrificial semiconductor material in repeating iterations to form a vertical stack, a first region of the sacrificial semiconductor material in which to form a first and a second source/drain region separated laterally by a channel region. An etchant process is used to form a first vertical opening exposing vertical sidewalls in the vertical stack adjacent the first region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Si-Woo Lee, John A. Smythe, III, Scott E. Sills, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Armin Saeedi Vahdat
  • Publication number: 20220045069
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for a three-node access device in vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. An example method includes a method for forming arrays of vertically stacked memory cells, having horizontally oriented access devices and vertically oriented access lines. The method includes depositing alternating layers of a dielectric material and a sacrificial material in repeating iterations to form a vertical stack. An etchant process is used to form a first vertical opening exposing vertical sidewalls in the vertical stack adjacent a first region of the sacrificial material. The first region is selectively etched to form a first horizontal opening removing the sacrificial material a first horizontal distance back from the first vertical opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, John A. Smythe, III, Si-Woo Lee, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Armin Saeedi Vahdat
  • Publication number: 20220037504
    Abstract: Some embodiments include integrated memory having an array of access transistors. Each access transistor includes an active region which has a first source/drain region, a second source/drain region and a channel region. The active regions of the access transistors include semiconductor material having elements selected from Groups 13 and 16 of the periodic table. First conductive structures extend along rows of the array and have gating segments adjacent the channel regions of the access transistors. Heterogenous insulative regions are between the gating segments and the channel regions. Second conductive structures extend along columns of the array, and are electrically coupled with the first source/drain regions. Storage-elements are electrically coupled with the second source/drain regions. Some embodiments include a transistor having a semiconductor oxide channel material. A conductive gate material is adjacent to the channel material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 11239117
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for storage node after horizontally oriented, three-node access device formation in vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. An example method includes a method for forming arrays of vertically stacked memory cells, having horizontally oriented access devices and vertically oriented access lines. The method includes depositing alternating layers of a dielectric material and a sacrificial semiconductor material to form a vertical stack. A first vertical opening is formed through the vertical stack to expose a first region of the sacrificial semiconductor material. The first region is selectively removed to form a first horizontal opening in which to replace a sacrificial gate dielectric material, form a source/drain conductive contact material, a channel conductive material, and a digit line conductive contact material of the three-node access device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Armin Saeedi Vahdat, John A. Smythe, III, Si-Woo Lee, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20220028903
    Abstract: An array of vertical transistors comprises spaced pillars of individual vertical transistors that individually comprise an upper source/drain region, a lower source/drain region, and a channel region vertically there-between. The upper source/drain region comprises a conductor oxide material in individual of the pillars. The channel region comprises an oxide semiconductor material in the individual pillars. The lower source/drain region comprises a first conductive oxide material in the individual pillars atop and directly against a second conductive oxide material in the individual pillars. Horizontally-elongated and spaced conductor lines individually interconnect a respective multiple of the vertical transistors in a column direction. The conductor lines individually comprise the second conductive oxide material atop and directly against metal material. The first conductive oxide material, the second conductive oxide material, and the metal material comprise different compositions relative one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Fang Lee, Jaydip Guha, Lars P. Heineck, Kamal M. Karda, Si-Woo Lee, Terrence B. McDaniel, Scott E. Sills, Kevin J. Torek, Sheng-Wei Yang
  • Patent number: 11227864
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for storage node after horizontally oriented, three-node access device formation in vertical three dimensional (3D) memory. An example method includes a method for forming arrays of vertically stacked memory cells, having horizontally oriented access devices and vertically oriented access lines. The method includes forming elongated vertical, pillar columns with sidewalls in a vertical stack. A first conductive material is conformally deposited on a gate dielectric material in the first vertical openings. Portions of the first conductive material are removed to form a plurality of separate, vertical access lines along the sidewalls of the elongated vertical, pillar columns. A second vertical opening is formed through the vertical stack to expose a first region of the sacrificial material. A third vertical opening is formed through the vertical stack to in which to form a storage node electrically coupled to the first source/drain material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Armin Saeedi Vahdat, John A. Smythe, III, Si-Woo Lee, Gurtej S. Sandhu, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20220013151
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a stack structure comprising decks each comprising a memory element level comprising memory elements, and a control logic level in electrical communication with the memory element level and comprising control logic devices. At least one of the control logic devices of the control logic level of one or more of the decks comprises at least one device exhibiting a gate electrode shared by neighboring vertical transistors thereof. A control logic assembly, a control logic device, an electronic system, a method of forming a control logic device, and a method of operating a semiconductor device are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Kurt D. Beigel, Scott E. Sills
  • Publication number: 20210408294
    Abstract: A device comprises an array comprising rows and columns of elevationally-extending transistors. An access line interconnects multiple of the elevationally-extending transistors along individual of the rows. The transistors individually comprise an upper source/drain region, a lower source/drain region, and a channel region extending elevationally there-between. The channel region comprises an oxide semiconductor. A transistor gate is operatively laterally-proximate the channel region and comprises a portion of an individual of the access lines. Intra-row-insulating material is longitudinally between immediately-intra-row-adjacent of the elevationally-extending transistors. Inter-row-insulating material is laterally between immediately-adjacent of the rows of the elevationally-extending transistors. At least one of the intra-row-insulating material and the inter-row-insulating material comprises void space. Other embodiments, including method embodiments, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi
  • Patent number: 11211292
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an assembly having a CMOS tier. The CMOS tier includes a PMOS deck and an NMOS deck, with the decks being vertically offset relative to one another. The PMOS deck has p-channel transistors which are substantially identical to one another, and the NMOS deck has n-channel transistors which are substantially identical to one another. An insulative region is between the PMOS deck and the NMOS deck. The CMOS tier has one or more circuit components which include one or more of the n-channel transistors coupled with one or more of the p-channel transistors through one or more conductive interconnects extending through the insulative region. Some embodiments include methods of forming assemblies to comprise one or more CMOS tiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kurt D. Beigel
  • Patent number: 11211384
    Abstract: A two transistor-one capacitor memory cell comprises first and second transistors laterally displaced relative one another. A capacitor is above the first and second transistors. The capacitor comprises a conductive first capacitor node directly above and electrically coupled to a first node of the first transistor. A conductive second capacitor node is directly above the first and second transistors and is electrically coupled to a first node of the second transistor. A capacitor insulator is between the first and second capacitor nodes. The second capacitor node comprises an elevationally-extending conductive pillar directly above the first node of the second transistor. The conductive pillar has an elevationally outer portion that is of four-sided diamond shape in horizontal cross-section. Other memory cells, including arrays of memory cells are disclosed as are methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott E. Sills
  • Patent number: 11195830
    Abstract: A semiconductor device comprises a stack structure comprising decks each comprising a memory level comprising memory elements, a control logic level vertically adjacent and in electrical communication with the memory level and comprising control logic devices configured to effectuate a portion of control operations for the memory level, and an additional control logic level vertically adjacent and in electrical communication with the memory level and comprising additional control logic devices configured to effectuate an additional portion of the control operations for the memory level. A memory device, a method of operating a semiconductor device, and an electronic system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kurt D. Beigel
  • Publication number: 20210375992
    Abstract: A method of forming an array of memory cells includes forming lines of covering material that are elevationally over and along lines of spaced sense line contacts. Longitudinal orientation of the lines of covering material is used in forming lines comprising programmable material and outer electrode material that are between and along the lines of covering material. The covering material is removed over the spaced sense line contacts and the spaced sense line contacts are exposed. Access lines are formed. Sense lines are formed that are electrically coupled to the spaced sense line contacts. The sense lines are angled relative to the lines of spaced sense line contacts and relative to the access lines. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20210375868
    Abstract: Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a first semiconductor material between two regions of a second semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material is a different composition than the first semiconductor material. Hydrogen is diffused within the first and second semiconductor materials. The conductivity of the second semiconductor material increases in response to the hydrogen diffused therein to thereby create a structure having the second semiconductor material as source/drain regions, and having the first semiconductor material as a channel region between the source/drain regions. A transistor gate is adjacent the channel region and is configured to induce an electric field within the channel region. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kamal M. Karda, Yi Fang Lee, Haitao Liu, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi, Karthik Sarpatwari, Scott E. Sills, Sameer Chhajed
  • Patent number: 11152509
    Abstract: A device comprises an array comprising rows and columns of elevationally-extending transistors. An access line interconnects multiple of the elevationally-extending transistors along individual of the rows. The transistors individually comprise an upper source/drain region, a lower source/drain region, and a channel region extending elevationally there-between. The channel region comprises an oxide semiconductor. A transistor gate is operatively laterally-proximate the channel region and comprises a portion of an individual of the access lines. Intra-row-insulating material is longitudinally between immediately-intra-row-adjacent of the elevationally-extending transistors. Inter-row-insulating material is laterally between immediately-adjacent of the rows of the elevationally-extending transistors. At least one of the intra-row-insulating material and the inter-row-insulating material comprises void space. Other embodiments, including method embodiments, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott E. Sills, Kirk D. Prall, Durai Vishak Nirmal Ramaswamy, Ramanathan Gandhi