Patents by Inventor Terry McDaniel

Terry McDaniel 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: 8674404
    Abstract: Memory devices, such as DRAM memory devices, may include one or more metal layers above a local interconnect of the DRAM memory that make contact to lower gate regions of the memory device. As the size of semiconductor components decreases and circuit densities increase, the density of the metal routing in these upper metal layers becomes increasingly difficult to fabricate. By providing additional metal routing in the lower gate regions that may be coupled to the upper metal layers, the spacing requirements of the upper metal layers may be eased, while maintaining the size of the semiconductor device. In addition, the additional metal routing formed in the gate regions of the memory devices may be disposed parallel to other metal contacts in a strapping configuration, thus reducing a resistance of the metal contacts, such as buried digit lines of a DRAM memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry McDaniel, James Green, Mark Fischer
  • Publication number: 20110086470
    Abstract: Memory devices, such as DRAM memory devices, may include one or more metal layers above a local interconnect of the DRAM memory that make contact to lower gate regions of the memory device. As the size of semiconductor components decreases and circuit densities increase, the density of the metal routing in these upper metal layers becomes increasingly difficult to fabricate. By providing additional metal routing in the lower gate regions that may be coupled to the upper metal layers, the spacing requirements of the upper metal layers may be eased, while maintaining the size of the semiconductor device. In addition, the additional metal routing formed in the gate regions of the memory devices may be disposed parallel to other metal contacts in a strapping configuration, thus reducing a resistance of the metal contacts, such as buried digit lines of a DRAM memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry McDaniel, James Green, Mark Fischer
  • Patent number: 7859112
    Abstract: Memory devices, such as DRAM memory devices, may include one or more metal layers above a local interconnect of the DRAM memory that make contact to lower gate regions of the memory device. As the size of semiconductor components decreases and circuit densities increase, the density of the metal routing in these upper metal layers becomes increasingly difficult to fabricate. By providing additional metal routing in the lower gate regions that may be coupled to the upper metal layers, the spacing requirements of the upper metal layers may be eased, while maintaining the size of the semiconductor device. In addition, the additional metal routing formed in the gate regions of the memory devices may be disposed parallel to other metal contacts in a strapping configuration, thus reducing a resistance of the metal contacts, such as buried digit lines of a DRAM memory cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry McDaniel, James Green, Mark Fischer
  • Patent number: 7595521
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Patent number: 7518827
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the enhancement of the storage capacity of a data disk drive while reducing optical path optics, electronics and/or the mass and complexity of associated read/write heads. The system utilizes light transmitted by optical elements to servo track a data disk and to heat the data disk during reading and writing of data, and magnetic elements for actual reading and writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Karl A. Belser, Terry McDaniel, Edward C. Gage, James Durnin, Lori G. Swanson, Christina L. Hutchinson
  • Publication number: 20090072288
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Inventors: Robert J. Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Patent number: 7473613
    Abstract: A process directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Patent number: 7468533
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20070231995
    Abstract: A process directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20070230012
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a recording head, a source of electromagnetic radiation, and a control circuit for modulating the source of electromagnetic radiation in response to a static deviation of a spacing between the recording head and the storage medium. A method of compensating a static deviation of a spacing between a recording head and a storage medium performed by the apparatus, and a method of precompensating for nonlinear transition shifts in a heat assisted magnetic recording system, are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mehmet Erden, Priyadarshee Mathur, William Challener, Edward Gage, Wei Peng, Terry McDaniel
  • Patent number: 7262053
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20070187737
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20070164372
    Abstract: Memory devices, such as DRAM memory devices, may include one or more metal layers above a local interconnect of the DRAM memory that make contact to lower gate regions of the memory device. As the size of semiconductor components decreases and circuit densities increase, the density of the metal routing in these upper metal layers becomes increasingly difficult to fabricate. By providing additional metal routing in the lower gate regions that may be coupled to the upper metal layers, the spacing requirements of the upper metal layers may be eased, while maintaining the size of the semiconductor device. In addition, the additional metal routing formed in the gate regions of the memory devices may be disposed parallel to other metal contacts in a strapping configuration, thus reducing a resistance of the metal contacts, such as buried digit lines of a DRAM memory cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Terry McDaniel, James Green, Mark Fischer
  • Publication number: 20060286748
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming a terraced film stack of a semiconductor device, for example, a DRAM memory device, is disclosed. The present invention addresses etch undercut resulting from materials of different etch selectivity used in the film stack, which if not addressed can cause device failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Hanson, Alex Schrinsky, Terry McDaniel
  • Publication number: 20060121318
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprises a magnetically soft underlayer having a plurality of cavities in a surface thereof, and a magnetic recording material in the cavities, wherein a surface of the magnetic recording material in the cavities is substantially coplanar with the surface of the soft underlayer. A recording system that includes the recording medium is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2004
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Edward Gage, Gary Rauch, Rene Johannes van de Veerdonk, Hans Richter, Terry McDaniel, Mark Kryder
  • Patent number: 6868048
    Abstract: Embodiments of a data storage system having thermally activated readout are provided, in one embodiment, a data storage system includes a source of heat, a substrate, a write layer disposed above the substrate, a copy layer disposed above the write layer, a flying head disposed above the layers and carrying the source of heat for heating a selected spot on the copy and write layers, wherein the write layer comprises a ferromagnetic material selected to have an extremely high coercivity at room temperature and a very high write temperature Twrite, and the copy layer comprises a ferromagnetic material selected to have a coercivity always less than coercivity of the write layer at the same temperature and a copy temperature Tcopy substantially less than the write temperature of the write layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Terry McDaniel, Karl A. Belser, Edward C. Gage, Randall H. Victora, James E. Durnin, Charles F. Brucker
  • Patent number: 6798729
    Abstract: An optical head utilizes a micro-machined element in combination with a light source and a lens to write and read data onto a storage disk. The micro-machined element may include a steerable micro-machined mirror or a micro-actuator. A beam of laser light transmitted from the light source to the optical head and a reflected light from the storage disk is altered by a movement of the micro-machined element. In this manner a focused optical spot is scanned back and forth in a direction which is approximately parallel to the radial direction of the storage disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jerry E. Hurst, Jr., Joseph Drake, Jeffrey P. Wilde, Joseph E. Davis, John F. Heanue, Kurt E. Petersen, Terry McDaniel, Jeff Drazan
  • Patent number: 6794238
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming metal plugs in a peripheral logic circuitry area of a semiconductor device to contact both N+ and P+ doped regions of transistors in the peripheral logic circuitry area. The metal plugs are formed after all high temperature processing used in wafer fabrication is completed. The metal plugs are formed without metal diffusing into the active areas of the substrate. The metal plugs may form an oval slot as seen from a top down view of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Lane, Terry McDaniel
  • Patent number: 6784501
    Abstract: A process and apparatus directed to forming metal plugs in a peripheral logic circuitry area of a semiconductor device to contact both N+ and P+ doped regions of transistors in the peripheral logic circuitry area. The metal plugs are formed after all high temperature processing used in wafer fabrication is completed. The metal plugs are formed without metal diffusing into the active areas of the substrate. The metal plugs may form an oval slot as seen from a top down view of the semiconductor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Lane, Terry McDaniel
  • Patent number: 6775100
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the enhancement of the storage capacity of a data disk drive while reducing optical path optics, electronics and/or the mass and complexity of associated read/write heads. The system utilizes light transmitted by optical elements to servo track a data disk and to heat the data disk during reading and writing of data, and magnetic elements for actual reading and writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Karl A. Belser, Terry McDaniel, Edward C. Gage, James Durnin, Lori G. Swanson, Christina L. Hutchinson