Micron Technology Incorporated

Other

Nan Ya Technology Corporation

Guangjun Yang

Mohd Kamran Akhtar

Alex J Schrinsky

Silvia Borsari

Si-Woo Lee

Russell A Benson

Sanh D Tang

Brent D Gilgen

Kuo-Chen Wang

Katsumi Koge

Arzum F Simsek-Ege

Anish A Khandekar

Suraj J Mathew

Yi Fang Lee

Jerome A Imonigie

Vinay Nair

Devesh Dadhich Shreeram

Zhiqiang Xie

Nicholas R Tapias

Kangle Li

Yoshitaka Nakamura

Ashwin Panday

A method used in forming memory circuitry comprises forming transistors individually comprising one source/drain region and another source/drain region. A channel region is between the one and the another source/drain regions. A conductive gate is operatively proximate the channel region. Conductive vias are formed that are individually directly electrically coupled to the another source/drain region. Conductor material is formed that is directly coupled to the one source/drain region. The conductor material is patterned in one direction to form horizontal lines of the conductor material that have a horizontal trench between immediately-adjacent of the horizontal conductor-material lines. In a self-aligned manner, digitlines are formed that are individually in individual of the trenches between the immediately-adjacent conductor-material lines. After forming the digitlines, the conductor material is patterned in another direction that is horizontally angled from the one direction to form conductor vias that are individually directly electrically coupled to the one source/drain region. A plurality of storage elements is formed that are individually directly electrically coupled to individual of the conductor vias. Other aspects, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.

Memory circuitry and method used in forming memory circuitry

Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having digit-line-contact-regions between pairs of capacitor-contact-regions. The capacitor-contact-regions are arranged with six adjacent capacitor-contact-regions in a substantially rectangular configuration. Conductive plugs are coupled with the capacitor-contact-regions. Conductive redistribution material is coupled with the conductive plugs. Upper surfaces of the conductive redistribution material are arranged in a substantially hexagonal-close-packed configuration. Digit lines are over the digit-line-contact-regions. Insulative regions are between the digit lines and the conductive plugs. The insulative regions contain voids and/or low-k dielectric material. Capacitors are coupled with the upper surfaces of the conductive redistribution material.

Integrated memory with redistribution of capacitor connections, and methods of forming integrated memory

Some embodiments include an integrated assembly. The integrated assembly includes active regions which each have a digit-line-contact-region between a pair of capacitor-contact-regions. The capacitor-contact-regions are arranged in a pattern such that six adjacent capacitor-contact-regions form a substantially rectangular configuration. Conductive redistribution material is coupled with the capacitor-contact-regions and extends upwardly and laterally outwardly from the capacitor-contact-regions. Upper surfaces of the conductive redistribution material are arranged in a pattern such that seven adjacent of the upper surfaces form a unit of a substantially hexagonal-close-packed configuration. Capacitors are coupled with the upper surfaces of the conductive redistribution material.

A method used in forming an array of vertical transistors comprises forming pillars individually comprising an upper source/drain region, a channel region vertically below the upper source/drain region, and sacrificial material above the upper source/drain region. Intervening material is about the sacrificial material of individual of the pillars. The intervening material and the sacrificial material comprise different compositions relative one another. Horizontally-elongated and spaced conductive gate lines are formed individually operatively aside the channel region of the individual pillars. The sacrificial material is removed to expose the upper source/drain region of the individual pillars and thereby form an opening in the intervening material directly above the upper source/drain region of the individual pillars. Metal material is formed in individual of the openings directly against the upper source/drain region of the individual pillars and atop the intervening material laterally outside of the openings. The metal material that is atop the intervening material interconnects the metal material that is in the individual openings. The metal material is removed back to have an uppermost surface that is no higher than an uppermost surface of the intervening material and to disconnect it from interconnecting the metal material that is in the individual openings and thereby form a laterally-isolated individual metal-material plug in the individual openings.

Method used in forming an array of vertical transistors and method used in forming an array of memory cells individually comprising a vertical transistor and a storage device above the vertical transistor

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for a semiconductor structure. An example method includes a method for forming a contact surface on a vertically oriented access devices. The method includes forming a first source/drain region and a second source/drain region vertically separated by a channel region, forming a sacrificial etch stop layer on a first side of the second source/drain region, wherein the channel region is in contact with a second side of the second source/drain region, forming a dielectric layer on a first side of the sacrificial etch stop layer, where the second source/drain region is connected to a second side of the sacrificial etch stop layer, removing the dielectric layer using a first etch process to expose the sacrificial etch stop layer, and removing the sacrificial etch stop layer using a second etch process to form a contact surface on the second source/drain region.

Semiconductor contact formation

Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated assembly. A construction is formed to include a conductive structure having a top surface, and a pair of sidewall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface. Insulative material is over the top surface, and rails are along the sidewall surfaces. The rails include sacrificial material. The sacrificial material is removed to leave openings. Sealant material is formed to extend within the openings. The sealant material has a lower dielectric constant than the insulative material. Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having a conductive structure with a top surface and a pair of opposing sidewall surfaces extending downwardly from the top surface. Insulative material is over the top surface. Voids are along the sidewall surfaces and are capped by sealant material. The sealant material has a lower dielectric constant than the insulative material.

Integrated assemblies having dielectric regions along conductive structures, and methods of forming integrated assemblies

A semiconductor device comprises semiconductive pillars; digit lines laterally between the semiconductive pillars; nitride caps vertically overlying the digit lines; nitride structures overlying surfaces of the nitride caps; redistribution material structures comprising upper portions overlying upper surfaces of the nitride caps and the nitride structures, and lower portions overlying upper surfaces of the semiconductive pillars; a low-K dielectric material laterally between the digit lines and the semiconductive pillars; air gaps laterally between the low-K dielectric material and the semiconductive pillars, and having upper boundaries below the upper surfaces of the nitride caps; and a nitride dielectric material laterally between the air gaps and the semiconductive pillars. Memory devices, electronic systems, and method of forming a semiconductor device are also described.

Methods of forming a semiconductor device

Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to epitaxial growth on semiconductor structures are described. An apparatus may include a working surface of a substrate material and a storage node connected to an active area of an access device on the working surface. The apparatus may also include a material epitaxially grown over the storage node contact to enclose a non-solid space between the storage node contact and passing sense lines.

Epitaxial growth on semiconductor structures

A method of forming a semiconductor device comprises patterning a mask material adjacent to an array of transistors, forming an electrically conductive material between adjacent portions of the patterned mask material, forming an additional mask material over the patterned mask material to form a mask structure, the additional mask material having an arcuate cross-sectional shape, removing a portion of the additional mask material to reduce a spacing between adjacent portions of the additional mask material, and forming capacitor structures in openings between the mask structure. Additional methods of forming a semiconductor device, and related semiconductor devices and related systems are also disclosed.

Methods of forming semiconductor devices using mask materials, and related semiconductor devices and systems

Some embodiments include a method of forming an integrated assembly. A construction is formed to include a structure having an exposed surface, and to include an opening proximate the structure. An aperture extends into the opening. A first material is deposited to form a mass along the exposed surface of the structure. Particles are sputtered from the mass and across the aperture. The particles agglomerate to form a sealant material which traps a void within the opening.

Methods of sealing openings, and methods of forming integrated assemblies

Methods of forming semiconductor devices, and related semiconductor devices, memory devices, and electronic systems

Systems, apparatuses, and methods related to passivation material for a pillar adjacent a trench are described. An example method includes forming a passivation material on a top region of a pillar adjacent a trench of a semiconductor device and removing a first portion of the passivation material to form, on a remaining second portion of the passivation material, a surface that is coplanar with an underlying sidewall of the pillar. The example method further includes removing a portion of a substrate material at a bottom region of the trench and removing the remaining second portion of the passivation material from the top region.

Passivation material for a pillar adjacent a trench

Some embodiments include an integrated assembly having active-region-pillars extending upwardly from a base. Each of the active-region-pillars has a pair of storage-element-contact-regions, and a digit-line-contact-region between the storage-element-contact-regions. The integrated assembly includes, along a cross-section, a first digit-line-contact-region adjacent a first storage-element-contact-region. The first digit-line-contact-region is recessed relative to the first storage-element-contact-region. A first digit-line is coupled with the first digit-line-contact-region. A second digit-line is laterally offset from the first digit-line. An insulative material is between the first digit-line and the first storage-element-contact-region. A cup-shaped indentation extends into the insulative material and the first storage-element-contact-region. Insulative spacers are along sidewalls of the first and second digit-lines, and include first material. First and second insulative pillars are over the first and second digit-lines, and include second material. Some embodiments include methods of forming integrated assemblies.

Growing community of inventors

Meridian, ID, United States of America

Guangjun Yang