IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,287,379
Granted Patent B2
US 9,287,379 · App. 14/281,569 · Granted Mar 15, 2016

Memory arrays

Inventors: John M. Meldrim (Boise, ID); Yushi Hu (Boise, ID); Rita J. Klein (Boise, ID); John D. Hopkins (Boise, ID); Hongbin Zhu (Boise, ID); Gordon A. Haller (Boise, ID); Luan C. Tran (Meridian, ID)
Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
H01L29/4975H01L21/28097H01L27/11556H01L27/11582
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 9,287,379
App. No.
14/281,569
Granted
Mar 15, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Some embodiments include a memory array which has a stack of alternating first and second levels. Channel material pillars extend through the stack, and vertically-stacked memory cell strings are along the channel material pillars. A common source is under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars. The common source has conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide, with the conductive protective material being a composition other than metal silicide. Some embodiments include methods of fabricating integrated structures.

Claims (12)

1. A memory array, comprising:

a stack of alternating first and second levels;

channel material pillars extending through the stack;

vertically-stacked memory cell strings along the channel material pillars; and

a common source under the stack and electrically coupled to the channel material pillars; the common source comprising conductive protective material over and directly against metal silicide; the conductive protective material comprising a composition other than metal silicide, and including germanium and silicon.

2. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the channel material pillars are hollow.

3. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the channel material pillars are not hollow.

4. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the metal silicide comprises tungsten silicide.

5. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the germanium is conductively doped.

6. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the silicon is conductively doped.

7. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the channel material pillars comprise silicon, and wherein silicon of the channel material pillars directly contacts the conductive protective material.

8. The memory array of claim 1 wherein the protective material comprises two portions, with one of the portions primarily comprising the germanium and the other of the portions primarily comprising the silicon.

Assignments (8)
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 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2014
From: MELDRIM, JOHN M.; HU, YUSHI; KLEIN, RITA J.; HOPKINS, JOHN D.; ZHU, HONGBIN; HALLER, GORDON A.; TRAN, LUAN C.
To: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 032926/0325 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150333143A1 · Nov 19, 2015