Patents by Inventor Tom Graettinger

Tom Graettinger 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: 20140159136
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ron Weimer, Kyu Min, Tom Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8643082
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Weimer, Kyu Min, Tom Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20120032252
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ron Weimer, Kyu Min, Tom Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 8058140
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Weimer, Kyu Min, Tom Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20100197131
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ron Weimer, Kyu Min, Tom Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 7705389
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Weimer, Kyu Min, Tom Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Publication number: 20090057744
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed, such as those involving memory cell devices with improved charge retention characteristics. In one or more embodiments, a memory cell is provided having an active area defined by sidewalls of neighboring trenches. A layer of dielectric material is blanket deposited over the memory cell, and etched to form spacers on sidewalls of the active area. Dielectric material is formed over the active area, a charge trapping structure is formed over the dielectric material over the active area, and a control gate is formed over the charge trapping structure. In some embodiments, the charge trapping structure includes nanodots. In some embodiments, the width of the spacers is between about 130% and about 170% of the thickness of the dielectric material separating the charge trapping material and an upper surface of the active area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ron Weimer, Kyu Min, Tom Graettinger, Nirmal Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 6940112
    Abstract: A capacitor for a memory device is formed with a conductive oxide for a bottom electrode. The conductive oxide (RuOx) is deposited under low temperatures as an amorphous film. As a result, the film is conformally deposited over a three dimensional, folding structure. Furthermore, a subsequent polishing step is easily performed on the amorphous film, increasing wafer throughput. After deposition and polishing, the film is crystallized in a non-oxidizing ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Mark Visokay, Tom Graettinger, Dan Gealy, Gurtej Sandhu, Cem Basceri, Steve Cummings
  • Patent number: 6869877
    Abstract: A capacitor for a memory device is formed with a conductive oxide for a bottom electrode. The conductive oxide (RuOx) is deposited under low temperatures as an amorphous film. As a result, the film is conformally deposited over a three dimensional, folding structure. Furthermore, a subsequent polishing step is easily performed on the amorphous film, increasing wafer throughput. After deposition and polishing, the film is crystallized in a non-oxidizing ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Mark Visokay, Tom Graettinger, Dan Gealy, Gurtej Sandhu, Cem Basceri, Steve Cummings
  • Publication number: 20030025142
    Abstract: A capacitor for a memory device is formed with a conductive oxide for a bottom electrode. The conductive oxide (RuOx) is deposited under low temperatures as an amorphous film. As a result, the film is conformally deposited over a three dimensional, folding structure. Furthermore, a subsequent polishing step is easily performed on the amorphous film, increasing wafer throughput. After deposition and polishing, the film is crystallized in a non-oxidizing ambient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Mark Visokay, Tom Graettinger, Dan Gealy, Gurtej Sandhu, Cem Basceri, Steve Cummings
  • Publication number: 20030003621
    Abstract: A capacitor for a memory device is formed with a conductive oxide for a bottom electrode. The conductive oxide (RuOx) is deposited under low temperatures as an amorphous film. As a result, the film is conformally deposited over a three dimensional, folding structure. Furthermore, a subsequent polishing step is easily performed on the amorphous film, increasing wafer throughput. After deposition and polishing, the film is crystallized in a non-oxidizing ambient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Mark Visokay, Tom Graettinger, Dan Gealy, Gurtej Sandhu, Cem Basceri, Steve Cummings
  • Patent number: 6492241
    Abstract: A capacitor for a memory device is formed with a conductive oxide for a bottom electrode. The conductive oxide (RuOx) is deposited under low temperatures as an amorphous film. As a result, the film is conformally deposited over a three dimensional, folding structure. Furthermore, a subsequent polishing step is easily performed on the amorphous film, increasing wafer throughput. After deposition and polishing, the film is crystallized in a non-oxidizing ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard E. Rhodes, Mark Visokay, Tom Graettinger, Dan Gealy, Gurtej Sandhu, Cem Basceri, Steve Cummings