Patent ID: 9236392
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: H01L

Claim Text:
1. A method of making a memory device including multi-level contacts, comprising: providing an in-process multilevel device comprising a stack of sacrificial layers and insulating layers that alternate and are located over a major surface of a substrate; forming at least one memory cell over the substrate and through the stack, each of said at least one memory cell containing a semiconductor channel including a vertical portion extending substantially perpendicular to a top surface of said substrate and further including a memory film contacting an outer sidewall of said semiconductor channel; forming a plurality of contact openings extending substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate to the plurality of sacrificial layers, wherein each of the plurality of contact openings extends through the stack to a respective one of the sacrificial layers; selectively removing the sacrificial layers from the stack to form a plurality of recesses extending substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate between the insulating layers; and depositing a plurality of electrically conductive via contacts in the plurality of the contact openings and a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes in the plurality of recesses in one deposition step, wherein: the plurality of electrically conductive electrodes and the insulator layers form an alternating stack of the insulator layers and the electrically conductive electrodes, said alternating stack of the insulator layers and the electrically conductive electrodes laterally surrounding portions of said at least one memory cell; a plurality of integrated line and via structures embedded within said insulator layers is formed; and each of said plurality of integrated line and via structures comprises a respective one of said electrically conductive electrodes and an electrically conductive via contact that adjoins, and overlies, said respective electrically conductive electrode such that a conductive material portion without an interface therein contiguously extends through said respective electrically conductive electrode and said electrically conductive via contact.