IP Library Granted Patent US 9,853,046
Granted Patent B2
US 9,853,046 · App. 15/174,478 · Granted Dec 26, 2017

Apparatuses and methods for forming multiple decks of memory cells

Inventors: Zhenyu Lu (Boise, ID); Roger W. Lindsay (Boise, ID); Akira Goda (Boise, ID); John Hopkins (Meridian, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L27/11582G11C16/04G11C16/0475G11C16/0483G11C16/14G11C16/26G11C16/3445H01L21/02178H01L27/1157H01L27/11524H01L27/11529H01L27/11556H01L27/11573
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,853,046
App. No.
15/174,478
Granted
Dec 26, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments include apparatuses and methods having multiple decks of memory cells and associated control gates. A method includes forming a first deck having alternating conductor materials and dielectric materials and a hole containing materials extending through the conductor materials and the dielectric materials. The methods can also include forming a sacrificial material in an enlarged portion of the hole and forming a second deck of memory cells over the first deck. Additional apparatuses and methods are described.

Claims (19)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first deck including alternating first conductor materials and first dielectric materials;

a second deck over the first deck, the second deck including alternating second conductor materials and second dielectric materials; and

a hole containing materials extending through the first conductor materials and the first dielectric materials and through the second conductor materials and the second dielectric materials, the hole including a first portion in the first deck, a second portion in the second deck, and a third portion between the first and second portions, wherein a diameter of the third portion of the hole is greater than a diameter of each of the first and second portions of the hole.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein one of the materials contained in the hole includes a tunneling material formed on sidewalls of the hole.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein one of the materials contained in the hole includes conductively doped semiconductor material adjacent the tunneling material.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the materials contained in the hole include a third dielectric material, the third dielectric material being surrounded by at least the conductively doped semiconductor material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first conductor materials include:

a first level of conductor material having a first conductivity type; and

a second level of conductor material having a second conductivity type.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus comprises a memory device.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a first deck including alternating first conductor materials and first dielectric materials, the first conductor materials including first levels of conductor materials having a first conductivity type, and second levels of conductor materials having a second conductivity type;

a second deck over the first deck, the second deck including alternating second conductor materials and second dielectric materials, the second conductor materials including third levels of conductor materials having the first conductivity type, wherein the second levels of conductor materials are between the first levels of conductor materials and the third levels of conductor materials; and

a hole containing materials extending through the first conductor materials and the first dielectric materials and through the second conductor materials and the second dielectric materials.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first conductivity type includes an n-type conductivity, and the second conductivity type includes a p-type conductivity.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the hole includes a first portion in the first deck, a second portion in the second deck, and a third portion between the first and second portions, wherein a diameter of the third portion of the hole is greater than a diameter of each of the first and second portions of the hole.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the materials contained in the hole include conductively doped semiconductor material extending continuously between the first, second, and third portions of the hole.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the conductively doped semiconductor material include conductively doped polysilicon material.

Assignments (6)
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 050676/0782 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 046635/0634 →
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 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 26, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039841/0207 →
SUPPLEMENT NO. 1 TO PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 25, 2016
From: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 039824/0681 →
Continuity (2)
Division 14509621 · Oct 8, 2014
Related Publication 20160284728A1 · Sep 29, 2016