Methods of forming semiconductor device structures including stair step structures
First Claim
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1. A method of forming a semiconductor device structure, comprising:
- forming tiers comprising conductive structures and insulating structures in a stacked arrangement over a substrate;
selectively removing portions of the tiers to form a stair step structure consisting of exposed, recessed edges of the tiers defining steps to all receive contact structures thereon, at least some longitudinally intermediate steps of the stair step structure formed to exhibit relatively larger widths than at least some other of the steps of the stair step structure based on increases in error values of a mathematically modeled error distribution refined through empirical data on lateral sizes and positions of steps of a previously-formed, actual stair case structure effectuating formation of centrally-positioned contact structures thereon, the previously-formed, actual stair case structure having the same number of steps and overall width as the stair step structure; and
forming the contact structures on all of the steps of the stair step structure, at least a majority of the contact structures positioned at lateral centers of the steps thereunder.
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Abstract
A method of forming a semiconductor device assembly comprises forming tiers comprising conductive structures and insulating structures in a stacked arrangement over a substrate. Portions of the tiers are selectively removed to form a stair step structure comprising a selected number of steps exhibiting different widths corresponding to variances in projected error associated with forming the steps. Contact structures are formed on the steps of the stair step structure. Semiconductor device structures and semiconductor devices are also described.
23 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of forming a semiconductor device structure, comprising:
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forming tiers comprising conductive structures and insulating structures in a stacked arrangement over a substrate; selectively removing portions of the tiers to form a stair step structure consisting of exposed, recessed edges of the tiers defining steps to all receive contact structures thereon, at least some longitudinally intermediate steps of the stair step structure formed to exhibit relatively larger widths than at least some other of the steps of the stair step structure based on increases in error values of a mathematically modeled error distribution refined through empirical data on lateral sizes and positions of steps of a previously-formed, actual stair case structure effectuating formation of centrally-positioned contact structures thereon, the previously-formed, actual stair case structure having the same number of steps and overall width as the stair step structure; and forming the contact structures on all of the steps of the stair step structure, at least a majority of the contact structures positioned at lateral centers of the steps thereunder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification