The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 14, 2025
Filed:
Feb. 26, 2024
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
John D. Hopkins, Meridian, ID (US);
Alyssa N. Scarbrough, Boise, ID (US);
Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);
Abstract
A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming a stack comprising vertically-alternating first tiers and second tiers comprising laterally-spaced memory-block regions having horizontally-elongated trenches there-between. Two of the first tiers have different vertical thicknesses relative one another. Channel-material strings of memory cells extend through the first tiers and the second tiers. Through the horizontally-elongated trenches, first conductive material is formed in void space in the two first tiers. The first conductive material fills the first tier of the two first tiers that has a smaller of the different vertical thicknesses in individual of the memory-block regions. The first conductive material less-than-fills the first tier of the two first tiers that has a larger of the different vertical thicknesses in the individual memory-block regions. Through the horizontally-elongated trenches, the first conductive material is isotropically etched from the first tier having the larger vertical thickness in the individual memory-block regions to leave the first conductive material in the first tier having the smaller vertical thickness in the individual memory-block regions. After the isotropically etching of the first conductive material and through the horizontally-elongated trenches, second conductive material is formed in the first tier having the larger vertical thickness in the individual memory-block regions. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.