IP Library Granted Patent US 9,564,471
Granted Patent B2
US 9,564,471 · App. 15/095,208 · Granted Feb 7, 2017

Stack of horizontally extending and vertically overlapping features, methods of forming circuitry components, and methods of forming an array of memory cells

Inventors: Sanh D. Tang (Boise, ID); Roger W. Lindsay (Boise, ID); Krishna K. Parat (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L27/249G11C13/0007H01L23/52H01L23/528H01L27/10H01L27/101H01L27/11556H01L27/11582H01L45/142H01L45/143H01L45/144H01L45/146H01L45/147G11C2213/11G11C2213/31G11C2213/32G11C2213/71G11C2213/75H01L2924/0002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,564,471
App. No.
15/095,208
Granted
Feb 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of forming circuitry components includes forming a stack of horizontally extending and vertically overlapping features. The stack has a primary portion and an end portion. At least some of the features extend farther in the horizontal direction in the end portion moving deeper into the stack in the end portion. Operative structures are formed vertically through the features in the primary portion and dummy structures are formed vertically through the features in the end portion. Horizontally elongated openings are formed through the features to form horizontally elongated and vertically overlapping lines from material of the features. The lines individually extend from the primary portion into the end portion, and individually laterally about sides of vertically extending portions of both the operative structures and the dummy structures. Sacrificial material that is elevationally between the lines is at least partially removed in the primary and end portions laterally between the horizontally elongated openings. Other aspects and implementations are disclosed.

Claims (21)

1. A stack of horizontally extending and vertically overlapping features, the stack comprising:

a primary portion and an end portion, at least some of the features extending farther in the horizontal direction in the end portion moving deeper into the stack in the end portion;

operative structures extending vertically through the features in the primary portion; and

dummy structures extending vertically through the features in the end portion.

2. The stack of claim 1 further comprising contacts in the end portion.

3. The stack of claim 1 wherein the features comprise horizontally extending conductive lines.

4. The stack of claim 1 wherein the operative and dummy structures comprise the same material.

5. The stack of claim 4 wherein the operative and dummy structures comprise a plurality of the same materials.

6. The stack of claim 5 wherein the same materials are arranged in the same lateral order relative one another in the operative and dummy structures.

7. The stack of claim 4 wherein the operative and dummy structures consist essentially of the same material.

8. The stack of claim 1 wherein the features comprise plates.

9. The stack of claim 1 wherein the operative and dummy structures comprise programmable material.

10. The stack of claim 1 wherein the operative and dummy structures comprise semiconductive material.

11. The stack of claim 10 wherein the semiconductive material of the operative structures comprises interconnected channels of a plurality of vertically oriented transistors.

12. The stack of claim 11 wherein the interconnected channels are of vertically oriented charge storage transistors.

13. The stack of claim 11 wherein the operative and dummy structures comprise conductive material.

14. The stack of claim 1 wherein the operative and dummy structures comprise hollow cylinders.

15. The stack of claim 1 wherein the operative and dummy structures comprise laterally solid pillars.

16. The stack of claim 1 wherein the operative structures comprises portions of memory cells.

17. The stack of claim 16 wherein the memory cells comprise a portion of NAND architecture, the operative structures comprising interconnected channel regions of a NAND string.

18. The stack of claim 16 wherein the memory cells comprise cross-point memory cells.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 12, 2019
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 051028/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2019
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 050937/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 047243/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 13, 2018
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.; MICRON SEMICONDUCTOR PRODUCTS, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 047540/0001 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REPLACE ERRONEOUSLY FILED PATENT #7358718 WITH THE CORRECT PATENT #7358178 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 038669 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Jun 8, 2017
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 043079/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 2, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038954/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038669/0001 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14602559 · Jan 22, 2015
Division 13085083 · Apr 12, 2011
Related Publication 20160225822A1 · Aug 4, 2016