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US6664639B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Contact and via structure and method of fabrication

Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC
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Filing: 2000-12-22
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Granted: 2003-12-16
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Expires: 2020-12-22
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Abstract

Abstract The present invention is a contact/via comprising and its method of fabrication. The contact/via of the present invention includes a conductive film. An opening having a top and bottom is formed on the conductive film. The opening has a first sidewall and a second sidewall wherein the first sidewall is opposite the second sidewall. The first sidewall has a stair step configuration such that the first sidewall is closer to the second sidewall at the bottom of the opening than at the top of the opening. A conductive film is then formed on the first sidewall in the opening and on the bottom of the opening on the conductive film.

Inventors

  • 👤 James M. Cleeves

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 07:07
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W20/00; H10W20/01; H10W20/071; H10W20/081; H10W20/082; H10D; H10D1/00; H10W20/031; H10W20/0698; H10W20/40; H10W20/41; H10W20/42; H10W20/49; H10W20/491

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 121 words
A contact in a three dimensional memory device comprising: a conductive film; an opening formed through a plurality of film stacks of a three dimensional memory device, said opening having a top and bottom wherein said bottom is formed on said conductive film, said opening having a first sidewall and second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is opposite of said second sidewall, and wherein said first sidewall has a stair step configuration, wherein said first sidewall is closer to said second sidewall at said bottom of said opening than at the top of said opening; and a conductor formed on said stair step configuration said first sidewall of said opening and on said bottom of said opening on said conductive film.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 121 words
A contact in a three dimensional memory device comprising: a conductive film; an opening formed through a plurality of film stacks of a three dimensional memory device, said opening having a top and bottom wherein said bottom is formed on said conductive film, said opening having a first sidewall and second sidewall, wherein said first sidewall is opposite of said second sidewall, and wherein said first sidewall has a stair step configuration, wherein said first sidewall is closer to said second sidewall at said bottom of said opening than at the top of said opening; and a conductor formed on said stair step configuration said first sidewall of said opening and on said bottom of said opening on said conductive film.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The contact of claim 1 wherein said second sidewall has a second stair step configuration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The contact of claim 1 wherein said continuous conductor is aluminum or aluminum alloy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The contact of claim 1 wherein said first sidewall has a slope (height:width) of less than 2:1.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 137 words
A contact in a three dimensional memory device comprising: a contact opening formed through a plurality of film stacks of a three-dimensional memory, said contact having a bottom on an interconnection, said contact opening having a first and second laterally opposite sidewalls, wherein said first sidewall comprises: a first vertical side extending up from said bottom; a first horizontal surface extending from said first vertical side to a second vertical side, said second vertical side further spaced from said second sidewall than said first vertical side; a second horizontal surface extending from said second vertical side to a third vertical side wherein said third vertical side is spaced further from said second sidewall than said second vertical side; and a conductor formed on said first sidewall and on said interconnection in the bottom of said contact opening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 137 words
A contact in a three dimensional memory device comprising: a contact opening formed through a plurality of film stacks of a three-dimensional memory, said contact having a bottom on an interconnection, said contact opening having a first and second laterally opposite sidewalls, wherein said first sidewall comprises: a first vertical side extending up from said bottom; a first horizontal surface extending from said first vertical side to a second vertical side, said second vertical side further spaced from said second sidewall than said first vertical side; a second horizontal surface extending from said second vertical side to a third vertical side wherein said third vertical side is spaced further from said second sidewall than said second vertical side; and a conductor formed on said first sidewall and on said interconnection in the bottom of said contact opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
The contact of claim 5 wherein said conductor is an aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 138 words
A contact of a three dimensional memory device comprising: a first and a second film stack of a three dimensional memory device said first film stack said having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; said second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap wherein said second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 138 words
A contact of a three dimensional memory device comprising: a first and a second film stack of a three dimensional memory device said first film stack said having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; said second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap wherein said second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 92 words
The contact of claim 7 further comprising a third film stack having a top conductive film, said third film stack formed over said second film stack, said third film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a third gap over said second gap wherein said third gap is larger than said second gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said second film stack and wherein said continuous conductive film is formed on said top conductive film of said second film stack in said third gap.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 153 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film wherein said first film stack comprises a top P+ film formed on a silicide film which is formed on a P+ silicon film which is formed on a P− silicon film which is formed on a antifuse layer; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 153 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film wherein said first film stack comprises a top P+ film formed on a silicide film which is formed on a P+ silicon film which is formed on a P− silicon film which is formed on a antifuse layer; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 44 words
The contact of claim 9 wherein said second film stack comprises a top N+ silicon film formed on a silicide film which is formed on a N+ silicon film which is formed on a N− silicon film which is formed on a antifuse film.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 154 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap wherein said first film stack comprises a top N+ silicon film formed on a silicide film which is formed on a N+ silicon film which is formed on a N− silicon film which is formed on a antifuse film.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 154 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap wherein said first film stack comprises a top N+ silicon film formed on a silicide film which is formed on a N+ silicon film which is formed on a N− silicon film which is formed on a antifuse film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 43 words
The contact of claim 11 wherein said second film stack comprises a top P+ silicon film formed on a silicide film which is formed on a P+ silicon film which is formed on a P− film which is formed on a antifuse layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 132 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap wherein said continuous conductive contact film comprises a top P+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 132 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap wherein said continuous conductive contact film comprises a top P+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 132 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap wherein said continuous conductive contact film comprises a top N+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 132 words
A contact comprising: a first film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a first gap, said first film stack having a top conductive film; a second film stack formed on said first film stack, said second film stack having a first part and a second part separated by a second gap formed over said first gap so as to expose said top conductive film of said first film stack, said second film stack having a top conductive film; and a continuous conductive contact film formed on said top conductive film on said second film stack and on said top conductive film of said first film stack in said second gap wherein said continuous conductive contact film comprises a top N+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 16 words
The contact of claim 7 wherein said continuous conductive film is aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 12 words
The contact of claim 13 wherein said silicide film comprises titanium silicide.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 12 words
The contact of claim 14 wherein said silicide film comprises titanium silicide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 134 words
A contact comprising: a contact opening having a bottom on an interconnection, said contact opening having a first and second laterally opposite sidewalls, wherein said first sidewall comprises: a first vertical side extending up from said bottom; a first horizontal surface extending from said first vertical side to a second vertical side, said second vertical side further spaced from said second sidewall than said first vertical plane; a second horizontal surface extending from said second vertical side to a third vertical side wherein said third vertical side is spaced further from said second sidewall than said second vertical side; and a continuous conductor formed on said first sidewall and on said interconnection in the bottom of said contact opening wherein said continuous conductor comprises a top p+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 134 words
A contact comprising: a contact opening having a bottom on an interconnection, said contact opening having a first and second laterally opposite sidewalls, wherein said first sidewall comprises: a first vertical side extending up from said bottom; a first horizontal surface extending from said first vertical side to a second vertical side, said second vertical side further spaced from said second sidewall than said first vertical plane; a second horizontal surface extending from said second vertical side to a third vertical side wherein said third vertical side is spaced further from said second sidewall than said second vertical side; and a continuous conductor formed on said first sidewall and on said interconnection in the bottom of said contact opening wherein said continuous conductor comprises a top p+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 12 words
The contact of claim 18 wherein said silicide film comprises titanium silicide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 134 words
A contact comprising: a contact opening having a bottom on an interconnection, said contact opening having a first and second laterally opposite sidewalls, wherein said first sidewall comprises: a first vertical side extending up from said bottom; a first horizontal surface extending from said first vertical side to a second vertical side, said second vertical side further spaced from said second sidewall than said first vertical side; a second horizontal surface extending from said second vertical side to a third vertical side wherein said third vertical side is spaced further from said second sidewall than said second vertical side; and a continuous conductor formed on said first sidewall and on said interconnection in the bottom of said contact opening wherein said continuous conductor comprises a top n+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 134 words
A contact comprising: a contact opening having a bottom on an interconnection, said contact opening having a first and second laterally opposite sidewalls, wherein said first sidewall comprises: a first vertical side extending up from said bottom; a first horizontal surface extending from said first vertical side to a second vertical side, said second vertical side further spaced from said second sidewall than said first vertical side; a second horizontal surface extending from said second vertical side to a third vertical side wherein said third vertical side is spaced further from said second sidewall than said second vertical side; and a continuous conductor formed on said first sidewall and on said interconnection in the bottom of said contact opening wherein said continuous conductor comprises a top n+ silicon film formed on a silicide film.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 12 words
The contact of claim 20 wherein the silicide film comprises titanium silicide.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2006-12-15 2007-06-16 2007-12-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-12-15 2011-06-16 2011-12-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-12-15 2015-06-16 2015-12-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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