Patent · US Active

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

US12406728B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
0References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 10, 2022
Grant dateSep 2, 2025
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 21, 2044

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH10B43/50
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A microelectronic device includes a stack structure, slot structures, and dielectric material. The stack structure includes blocks each including a vertically alternating sequence of conductive material and insulative material arranged in tiers. At least one of the blocks includes an array region including strings of memory cells, and a staircase region including a crest sub-region interposed between a staircase structure and the array region. An uppermost boundary of the tiers within the crest sub-region underlies an uppermost boundary of the tiers within the array region. The slot structures are interposed between the blocks of the stack structure. The dielectric material extends over and between the blocks of the stack structure. A thickness of a portion of the dielectric material overlying the crest sub-region is greater than a thickness of an additional portion of the dielectric material overlying the array region. Related memory devices, electronic systems, and methods are also described.

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