Patents by Inventor Wendell P. Noble

Wendell P. Noble 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: 7883962
    Abstract: A DRAM array having trench capacitor cells of potentially 4F2 surface area (F being the photolithographic minimum feature width), and a process for fabricating such an array. The array has a cross-point cell layout in which a memory cell is located at the intersection of each bit line and each word line. Each cell in the array has a vertical device such as a transistor, with the source, drain, and channel regions of the transistor being formed from epitaxially grown single crystal silicon. The vertical transistor is formed above the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Publication number: 20100297819
    Abstract: A DRAM array having trench capacitor cells of potentially 4F2 surface area (F being the photolithographic minimum feature width), and a process for fabricating such an array. The array has a cross-point cell layout in which a memory cell is located at the intersection of each bit line and each word line. Each cell in the array has a vertical device such as a transistor, with the source, drain, and channel regions of the transistor being formed from epitaxially grown single crystal silicon. The vertical transistor is formed above the trench capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 7785961
    Abstract: A DRAM array having trench capacitor cells of potentially 4F2 surface area (F being the photolithographic minimum feature width), and a process for fabricating such an array. The array has a cross-point cell layout in which a memory cell is located at the intersection of each bit line and each word line. Each cell in the array has a vertical device such as a transistor, with the source, drain, and channel regions of the transistor being formed from epitaxially grown single crystal silicon. The vertical transistor is formed above the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Publication number: 20090130807
    Abstract: A DRAM array having trench capacitor cells of potentially 4F2 surface area (F being the photolithographic minimum feature width), and a process for fabricating such an array. The array has a cross-point cell layout in which a memory cell is located at the intersection of each bit line and each word line. Each cell in the array has a vertical device such as a transistor, with the source, drain, and channel regions of the transistor being formed from epitaxially grown single crystal silicon. The vertical transistor is formed above the trench capacitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 7488641
    Abstract: A DRAM array having trench capacitor cells of potentially 4F2 surface area (F being the photolithographic minimum feature width), and a process for fabricating such an array. The array has a cross-point cell layout in which a memory cell is located at the intersection of each bit line and each word line. Each cell in the array has a vertical device such as a transistor, with the source, drain, and channel regions of the transistor being formed from epitaxially grown single crystal silicon. The vertical transistor is formed above the trench capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 7282400
    Abstract: Improved methods and structures are provided that are lateral to surfaces with a (110) crystal plane orientation such that an electrical current of such structures is conducted in the <110> direction. Advantageously, improvements in hole carrier mobility of approximately 50% can be obtained by orienting the structure's channel in a (110) plane such that the electrical current flow is in the <110> direction. Moreover, these improved methods and structures can be used in conjunction with existing fabrication and processing techniques with minimal or no added complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell P. Noble, Leonard Forbes, Alan R. Reinberg
  • Patent number: 7271467
    Abstract: Structures are provided for multiple oxide thicknesses on a single silicon wafer. In particular, structures are provided for multiple gate oxide thicknesses on a single chip. The chip can include circuitry including but not limited to the memory and logic technologies. These structures for multiple oxide thickness on a single silicon wafer can be used in conjunction with existing fabrication and processing techniques with minimal or no added complexity. One structure includes a top layer of SiO2 on a top surface of a silicon wafer and a trench layer of SiO2 on a trench wall of the silicon wafer. The trench wall of the silicon wafer has a different order plane-orientation than the top surface. The thickness of the top layer is different from a thickness of the trench layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell P. Noble, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7232713
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method of forming an electrical connection in an integrated circuitry device. According to one preferred implementation, a diffusion region is formed in semiconductive material. A conductive line is formed which is laterally spaced from the diffusion region. The conductive line is preferably formed relative to and within isolation oxide which separates substrate active areas. The conductive line is subsequently interconnected with the diffusion region. According to another preferred implementation, an oxide isolation grid is formed within semiconductive material. Conductive material is formed within the oxide isolation grid to form a conductive grid therein. Selected portions of the conductive grid are then removed to define interconnect lines within the oxide isolation grid. According to another preferred implementation, a plurality of oxide isolation regions are formed over a semiconductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 7223678
    Abstract: A memory cell for a memory array in a folded bit line configuration. The memory cell includes an access transistor formed in a pillar of single crystal semiconductor material. The access transistor has first and second source/drain regions and a body region that are vertically aligned. The access transistor further includes a gate coupled to a wordline disposed adjacent to the body region. The memory cell also includes a passing wordline that is separated from the gate by an insulator for coupling to other memory cells adjacent to the memory cell. The memory cell also includes a trench capacitor. The trench capacitor includes a first plate that is formed integral with the first source/drain region of the access transistor. The trench capacitor also includes a second plate that is disposed adjacent to the first plate and separated from the first plate by a gate oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell P. Noble, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7217606
    Abstract: A method for forming NMOS and PMOS transistors that includes cutting a substrate along a higher order orientation and fabricating deep sub-micron NMOS and PMOS transistors on the vertical surfaces thereof. The complementary NMOS and PMOS transistors form a CMOS transistor pair. The transistors are preferably used in structures such as memory circuits, e.g., DRAMs, which are, in turn, used in a processor-based system. Ideally, the deep sub-micron NMOS and PMOS transistors are operated in velocity saturation for optimal switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Wendell P. Noble, Alan R. Reinberg
  • Patent number: 7176087
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method of forming an electrical connection in an integrated circuitry device. According to one preferred implementation, a diffusion region is formed in semiconductive material. A conductive line is formed which is laterally spaced from the diffusion region. The conductive line is preferably formed relative to and within isolation oxide which separates substrate active areas. The conductive line is subsequently interconnected with the diffusion region. According to another preferred implementation, an oxide isolation grid is formed within semiconductive material. Conductive material is formed within the oxide isolation grid to form a conductive grid therein. Selected portions of the conductive grid are then removed to define interconnect lines within the oxide isolation grid. According to another preferred implementation, a plurality of oxide isolation regions are formed over a semiconductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 7105388
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides a method of forming an electrical connection in an integrated circuitry device. According to one preferred implementation, a diffusion region is formed in semiconductive material. A conductive line is formed which is laterally spaced from the diffusion region. The conductive line is preferably formed relative to and within isolation oxide which separates substrate active areas. The conductive line is subsequently interconnected with the diffusion region. According to another preferred implementation, an oxide isolation grid is formed within semiconductive material. Conductive material is formed within the oxide isolation grid to form a conductive grid therein. Selected portions of the conductive grid are then removed to define interconnect lines within the oxide isolation grid. According to another preferred implementation, a plurality of oxide isolation regions are formed over a semiconductive substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 7105386
    Abstract: High density static memory cells and arrays containing gated lateral bipolar transistors which can be latched in a bistable on state. Each transistor memory cell includes two gates which are pulse biased during the write operation to latch the cell. Also provided is a CMOS fabrication process to create the cells and arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell P. Noble, Jr., Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7057223
    Abstract: A memory cell for a memory array in a folded bit line configuration. The memory cell includes an access transistor formed in a pillar of single crystal semiconductor material. The access transistor has first and second source/drain regions and a body region that are vertically aligned. The access transistor further includes a gate coupled to a wordline disposed adjacent to the body region. The memory cell also includes a passing wordline that is separated from the gate by an insulator for coupling to other memory cells adjacent to the memory cell. The memory cell also includes a trench capacitor. The trench capacitor includes a first plate that is formed integral with the first source/drain region of the access transistor. The trench capacitor also includes a second plate that is disposed adjacent to the first plate and separated from the first plate by a gate oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc
    Inventors: Wendell P. Noble, Leonard Forbes
  • Patent number: 7049196
    Abstract: A vertical gain memory cell including an n-channel metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) and p-channel junction field-effect transistor (JFET) transistors formed in a vertical pillar of semiconductor material is provided. The body portion of the p-channel transistor is coupled to a second source/drain region of the MOSFET which serves as the gate for the JFET. The second source/drain region of the MOSFET is additionally coupled to a charge storage node. Together the second source/drain region and charge storage node provide a bias to the body of the JFET that varies as a function of the data stored by the memory cell. A non destructive read operation is achieved. The stored charge is sensed indirectly in that the stored charge modulates the conductivity of the JFET so that the JFET has a first turn-on threshold for a stored logic “1” condition and a second turn-on threshold for a stored logic “0” condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 7045880
    Abstract: Improved methods and structures are provided that are lateral to surfaces with a (110) crystal plane orientation such that an electrical current of such structures is conducted in the <110> direction. Advantageously, improvements in hole carrier mobility of approximately 50% can be obtained by orienting the structure's channel in a (110) plane such that the electrical current flow is in the <110> direction. Moreover, these improved methods and structures can be used in conjunction with existing fabrication and processing techniques with minimal or no added complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell P. Noble, Leonard Forbes, Alan R. Reinberg
  • Patent number: 7023040
    Abstract: The present invention includes a programmable logic array having a first logic plane that receives a number of input signals. The first logic plane has a plurality of non-volatile memory cells arranged in rows and columns that are interconnected to provide a number of logical outputs. A number of non-volatile memory cells arranged in rows and columns of a second logic plane receive the outputs of the first logic plane and are interconnected to produce a number of logical outputs such that the programmable logic array implements a logical function. Each non-volatile memory cell includes a MOSFET. Each non-volatile memory cell includes a stacked capacitor formed according to a DRAM process. Each non-volatile memory cell includes an electrical contact that couples the stacked capacitor to a gate of the MOSFET. The present invention also includes methods for producing the Ics and arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Eugene H. Cloud, Wendell P. Noble
  • Patent number: 6964903
    Abstract: A method provides a structure that includes dual-gated metal-oxide semiconducting field effect transistor (MOSFET). The dual-gated MOSFET can be fabricated according to current CMOS processing techniques. The method includes forming a body region of the dual-gated MOSFET as a fully depleted structure. The structure includes two gates which are positioned on opposite sides of the opposing sides of the body region. Further, the structure operates as one device where the threshold voltage of one gate depends on the bias of the other gate. Thus, the structure yields a small signal component in analog circuit applications which depends on the product of the signals applied to the gates, and not simply one which depends on the sum of the two signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard Forbes, Wendell P. Noble, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6960821
    Abstract: Improved methods and structures are provided that are lateral to surfaces with a (110) crystal plane orientation such that an electrical current of such structures is conducted in the <110> direction. Advantageously, improvements in hole carrier mobility of approximately 50% can be obtained by orienting the structure's channel in a (110) plane such that the electrical current flow is in the <110> direction. Moreover, these improved methods and structures can be used in conjunction with existing fabrication and processing techniques with minimal or no added complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Wendell P. Noble, Leonard Forbes, Alan R. Reinberg
  • Patent number: 6946389
    Abstract: Buried conductors within semiconductor devices and structures, and methods for forming such conductors, are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate and a plurality of conductive elements buried within the substrate. The conductive elements may be metal, such as tungsten or a tungsten alloy. The invention described in the disclosure provides for advantages including formation of three-dimensional structures without resort to external wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Farrar, Wendell P. Noble