Patent · US Active

Microelectronic devices including staircase structures, and related memory devices, electronic systems, and methods

US12191249B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
13References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 3, 2021
Grant dateJan 7, 2025
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 24, 2043

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11C16/0483
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A microelectronic device comprises a stack structure overlying a source tier. The stack structure comprising a vertically alternating sequence of conductive structures and insulative structures arranged in tiers. The microelectronic device comprises a staircase structure within the stack structure and having steps comprising lateral edges of the tiers, support structures vertically extending through the stack structure and within a horizontal area of the staircase structure, and conductive contacts vertically extending through the stack structure and horizontally neighboring the support structures within the horizontal area of the staircase structure. Each of the conductive contacts has a horizontally projecting portion in contact with one of the conductive structures of the stack structure at one of the steps of the staircase structure. Related memory devices, electronic systems, and methods of forming the microelectronic devices are also described.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.