Patents by Inventor Timothy Quick

Timothy Quick 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: 20120104347
    Abstract: A method of forming a chalcogenide material on a surface of a substrate comprising exposing a surface of a substrate to ionized gas clusters from a source gas, the ionized gas clusters comprising at least one chalcogen and at least one electropositive element. A method of forming a resistive random access memory device is also disclosed. The method comprises forming a plurality of memory cells wherein each cell of the plurality of memory cells is formed by forming a metal on a first electrode, forming a chalcogenide material on the metal by a gas cluster ion beam process, and forming a second electrode on the chalcogenide material. A method of forming another resistive random access memory device and a random access memory device including the chalcogenide material are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy A. Quick
  • Publication number: 20120097911
    Abstract: Phase change memory cell structures and methods are described herein. A number of methods of forming a phase change memory cell structure include forming a dielectric stack structure on a first electrode, wherein forming the dielectric stack structure includes creating a second region between a first region and a third region of the dielectric stack structure, the second region having a thermal conductivity different than a thermal conductivity of the first region and different than a thermal conductivity of the third region of the dielectric stack. One or more embodiments include forming a via through the first, second, and third regions of the dielectric stack structure, depositing a phase change material in the via, and forming a second electrode on the phase change material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Quick, Eugene P. Marsh, Joseph N. Greeley
  • Patent number: 8163341
    Abstract: Some embodiments include methods of forming metal-containing structures. A first metal-containing material may be formed over a substrate. After the first metal-containing material is formed, and while the substrate is within a reaction chamber, hydrogen-containing reactant may be used to form a hydrogen-containing layer over the first metal-containing material. The hydrogen-containing reactant may be, for example, formic acid and/or formaldehyde. Any unreacted hydrogen-containing reactant may be purged from within the reaction chamber, and then metal-containing precursor may be flowed into the reaction chamber. The hydrogen-containing layer may be used during conversion of the metal-containing precursor into a second metal-containing material that forms directly against the first metal-containing material. Some embodiments include methods of forming germanium-containing structures, such as, for example, methods of forming phase change materials containing germanium, antimony and tellurium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Quick, Eugene P. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20120067283
    Abstract: A method of forming (and apparatus for forming) a metal oxide layer, preferably a dielectric layer, on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process and ozone with one or more metal organo-amine precursor compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian A. Vaartstra, Timothy A. Quick
  • Patent number: 8124445
    Abstract: Confined resistance variable memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more methods of forming a confined resistance variable memory cell structure includes forming a via in a memory cell structure and forming a resistance variable material in the via by performing a process that includes providing a germanium amidinate precursor and a first reactant to a process chamber having the memory cell structure therein and providing an antimony ethoxide precursor and a second reactant to the process chamber subsequent to removing excess germanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenda D. Kraus, Eugene P. Marsh, Timothy A. Quick
  • Patent number: 8114219
    Abstract: A method of forming (and apparatus for forming) a metal oxide layer, preferably a dielectric layer, on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process and ozone with one or more metal organo-amine precursor compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Vaartstra, Timothy A. Quick
  • Publication number: 20120018693
    Abstract: Confined resistance variable memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more methods of forming a confined resistance variable memory cell structure includes forming a via in a memory cell structure and forming a resistance variable material in the via by performing a process that includes providing a germanium amidinate precursor and a first reactant to a process chamber having the memory cell structure therein and providing an antimony ethoxide precursor and a second reactant to the process chamber subsequent to removing excess germanium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brenda D. Kraus, Eugene P. Marsh, Timothy A. Quick
  • Publication number: 20120021587
    Abstract: A method of forming (and apparatus for forming) a metal oxide layer, preferably a dielectric layer, on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process and ozone with one or more metal organo-amine precursor compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Brian A. Vaartstra, Timothy A. Quick
  • Patent number: 8097537
    Abstract: Phase change memory cell structures and methods are described herein. A number of methods of forming a phase change memory cell structure include forming a dielectric stack structure on a first electrode, wherein forming the dielectric stack structure includes creating a second region between a first region and a third region of the dielectric stack structure, the second region having a thermal conductivity different than a thermal conductivity of the first region and different than a thermal conductivity of the third region of the dielectric stack. One or more embodiments include forming a via through the first, second, and third regions of the dielectric stack structure, depositing a phase change material in the via, and forming a second electrode on the phase change material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Quick, Eugene P. Marsh, Joseph N. Greeley
  • Patent number: 8097175
    Abstract: Methods of forming metal oxide structures and methods of forming metal oxide patterns on a substrate using a block copolymer system formulated for self-assembly. The metal oxide structures and patterns may be used, for example, as a mask for sublithographic patterning during various stages of semiconductor device fabrication. A block copolymer at least within a trench in the substrate and including at least one soluble block and at least one insoluble block may be annealed to form a self-assembled pattern including a plurality of repeating units of the at least one soluble block laterally aligned with the trench and positioned within a matrix of the at least one insoluble block. The self-assembled pattern may be exposed to a metal oxide precursor that impregnates the at least one soluble block. The metal oxide precursor may be oxidized to form a metal oxide. The self-assembled pattern may be removed to form a pattern of metal oxide lines on the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan B. Millward, Timothy A. Quick, J. Neil Greeley
  • Publication number: 20110309319
    Abstract: Horizontally oriented and vertically stacked memory cells are described herein. One or more method embodiments include forming a vertical stack having a first insulator material, a first memory cell material on the first insulator material, a second insulator material on the first memory cell material, a second memory cell material on the second insulator material, and a third insulator material on the second memory cell material, forming an electrode adjacent a first side of the first memory cell material and a first side of the second memory cell material, and forming an electrode adjacent a second side of the first memory cell material and a second side of the second memory cell material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Quick, Eugene P. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20110301383
    Abstract: The present invention provides metal-containing compounds that include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand, and methods of making and using the same. In certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand with at least one fluorine-containing organic group as a substituent. In other certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand with at least one aliphatic group as a substituent selected to have greater degrees of freedom than the corresponding substituent in the ?-diketiminate ligands of certain metal-containing compounds known in the art. The compounds can be used to deposit metal-containing layers using vapor deposition methods. Vapor deposition systems including the compounds are also provided. Sources for ?-diketiminate ligands are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Dan Millward, Timothy A. Quick
  • Publication number: 20110291064
    Abstract: Resistance variable memory cell structures and methods are described herein. One or more resistance variable memory cell structures include a first electrode common to a first and a second resistance variable memory cell, a first vertically oriented resistance variable material having an arcuate top surface in contact with a second electrode and a non-arcuate bottom surface in contact with the first electrode; and a second vertically oriented resistance variable material having an arcuate top surface in contact with a third electrode and a non-arcuate bottom surface in contact with the first electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene P. Marsh, Timothy A. Quick
  • Publication number: 20110291065
    Abstract: Phase change memory cell structures and methods are described herein. A number of methods of forming a phase change memory cell structure include forming a dielectric stack structure on a first electrode, wherein forming the dielectric stack structure includes creating a second region between a first region and a third region of the dielectric stack structure, the second region having a thermal conductivity different than a thermal conductivity of the first region and different than a thermal conductivity of the third region of the dielectric stack. One or more embodiments include forming a via through the first, second, and third regions of the dielectric stack structure, depositing a phase change material in the via, and forming a second electrode on the phase change material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy A. Quick, Eugene P. Marsh, Joseph N. Greeley
  • Publication number: 20110281414
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for semiconductor processing are described herein. A number of method embodiments of semiconductor processing can include forming a silicon layer on a structure, forming an opening through the silicon layer and into the structure, and selectively forming a resistance variable material in the opening such that the resistance variable material does not form on the silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eugene P. Marsh, Timothy A. Quick
  • Patent number: 8017184
    Abstract: The present invention provides metal-containing compounds that include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand, and methods of making and using the same. In certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand with at least one fluorine-containing organic group as substituent. In other certain embodiments, the metal-containing compounds include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand with at least one aliphatic group as a substituent selected to have greater degrees of freedom than the corresponding substituent in the ?-diketiminate ligands of certain metal-containing compounds known in the art. The compounds can be used to deposit metal-containing layers using vapor deposition methods. Vapor deposition systems including the compounds are also provided. Sources for ?-diketiminate ligands are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Millward, Timothy A. Quick
  • Patent number: 8003521
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for semiconductor processing are described herein. A number of method embodiments of semiconductor processing can include forming a silicon layer on a structure, forming an opening through the silicon layer and into the structure, and selectively forming a resistance variable material in the opening such that the resistance variable material does not form on the silicon layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene P. Marsh, Timothy A. Quick
  • Publication number: 20110071316
    Abstract: The present invention provides metal-containing compounds that include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand, and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the metal-containing compounds are homoleptic complexes that include unsymmetrical ?-diketiminate ligands. In other embodiments, the metal-containing compounds are heteroleptic complexes including at least one ?-diketiminate ligand. The compounds can be used to deposit metal-containing layers using vapor deposition methods. Vapor deposition systems including the compounds are also provided. Sources for ?-diketiminate ligands are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Millward, Stefan Uhlenbrock, Timothy A. Quick
  • Patent number: 7858523
    Abstract: The present invention provides metal-containing compounds that include at least one ?-diketiminate ligand, and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the metal-containing compounds are homoleptic complexes that include unsymmetrical ?-diketiminate ligands. In other embodiments, the metal-containing compounds are heteroleptic complexes including at least one ?-diketiminate ligand. The compounds can be used to deposit metal-containing layers using vapor deposition methods. Vapor deposition systems including the compounds are also provided. Sources for ?-diketiminate ligands are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Millward, Stefan Uhlenbrock, Timothy A. Quick
  • Patent number: 7858815
    Abstract: A method of forming (and apparatus for forming) a tantalum oxide layer on a substrate, particularly a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly, using a vapor deposition process and a tantalum precursor compound that includes alkoxide ligands, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian A. Vaartstra, Timothy A. Quick