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.

Date of Patent:
Sep. 23, 2025

Filed:

Dec. 07, 2022
Applicant:

Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);

Inventors:

Daniel Billingsley, Meridian, ID (US);

Jordan D. Greenlee, Boise, ID (US);

John D. Hopkins, Meridian, ID (US);

Yongjun Jeff Hu, Boise, ID (US);

Swapnil Lengade, Boise, ID (US);

Assignee:

Micron Technology, Inc., Boise, ID (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H10B 41/27 (2023.01); G11C 16/04 (2006.01); H10B 41/10 (2023.01); H10B 41/35 (2023.01); H10B 43/10 (2023.01); H10B 43/27 (2023.01); H10B 43/35 (2023.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H10B 41/27 (2023.02); G11C 16/0483 (2013.01); H10B 41/10 (2023.02); H10B 41/35 (2023.02); H10B 43/10 (2023.02); H10B 43/27 (2023.02); H10B 43/35 (2023.02);
Abstract

A method used in forming a memory array comprising strings of memory cells comprises forming an upper stack directly above a lower stack. The lower stack comprises vertically-alternating lower-first-tiers and lower-second-tiers. The upper stack comprises vertically-alternating upper-first-tiers and upper-second-tiers. Lower channel openings extend through the lower-first-tiers and the lower-second-tiers. The lower channel openings have sacrificial material therein. An upper of the lower-second-tiers or a lower of the upper-second-tiers comprises non-stoichiometric silicon dioxide that has a silicon-to-oxygen atomic ratio greater than 0.5. A higher of the upper-second-tiers that is above said lower upper-second-tier comprises silicon dioxide that has a silicon-to-oxygen atomic ratio less than or equal to 0.5. Upper channel openings are etched through the upper-first-tiers and the upper-second-tiers to stop on said upper lower-second-tier or said lower upper-second-tier. After the stop, the sacrificial material is removed from the lower channel openings and channel-material strings are formed in the upper and lower channel openings. Other embodiments, including structure independent of method, are disclosed.


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