Patents Examined by Jeffrie R. Lund
  • Patent number: 11967511
    Abstract: Temperature uniformity in a mounting surface of a mounting table is improved. A plasma processing apparatus includes a mounting table having thereon a mounting surface on which a work-piece serving as a plasma processing target is mounted; a coolant path formed within the mounting table along the mounting surface of the mounting table; an inlet path connected to the coolant path from a backside of the mounting surface of the mounting table and configured to introduce a coolant into the coolant path; and a thermal resistor provided in a region, facing a connection portion between the inlet path and the coolant path, of an inner wall of the coolant path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Akira Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11959169
    Abstract: A gas injector for processing a substrate includes a body having an inlet connectable to a gas source that is configured to provide a gas flow in a first direction into the inlet when processing a substrate on a substrate support disposed within a processing volume of a processing chamber, and an a gas injection channel formed in the body. The gas injection channel is in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to deliver the gas flow to an inlet of the processing chamber. The gas injection channel has a first interior surface and a second interior surface that are parallel to a second direction and a third direction. The second and third directions are misaligned with a center of the substrate, and are at an angle to the first direction towards a first edge of the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Kihara Shono, Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Christopher S. Olsen, Kartik Shah, Hansel Lo, Tobin Kaufman-Osborn, Rene George, Lara Hawrylchak, Erika Hansen
  • Patent number: 11952660
    Abstract: A processing chamber may include a gas distribution member, a substrate support, and a pumping liner. The gas distribution member and the substrate support may at least in part define a processing volume. The pumping liner may define an internal volume in fluid communication with the processing volume via a plurality of apertures of the pumping liner circumferentially disposed about the processing volume. The processing chamber may further include a flow control mechanism operable to direct fluid flow from the internal volume of the pumping liner into the processing volume via a subset of the plurality of apertures of the pumping liner during fluid distribution into the processing volume from the gas distribution member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Pathak, Yuxing Zhang, Tuan A. Nguyen, Kalyanjit Ghosh, Amit Bansal, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez
  • Patent number: 11955366
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer. A pedestal assembly includes a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal assembly. A raising mechanism separates the lift pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, and a lever rotatably attached to the lift pad bracket. The lever rests on the roller when not engaged with the upper hard stop. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates about a pin when engaging the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the lift pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11952664
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of improving the uniformity of the film formation among the substrates. According to the technique described herein, there is provided a configuration including: a reaction tube having a process chamber where a plurality of substrates are processed; a buffer chamber protruding outward from the reaction tube and configured to supply a process gas to the process chamber, the buffer chamber including: a first nozzle chamber where a first nozzle is provided; and a second nozzle chamber where a second nozzle is provided; an opening portion provided at a lower end of an inner wall of the reaction tube facing the buffer chamber; and a shielding portion provided at a communicating portion of the opening portion between the second nozzle chamber and the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidenari Yoshida, Takeo Hanashima, Hiroaki Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 11937919
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the visualisation of a print on an object, the apparatus comprising: a base comprising a heating element in thermal communication with a receptacle for storing an agent, a housing to provide a sealed chamber; and a port for applying a vacuum to, or releasing a vacuum from, the sealed chamber. The invention is particularly for the visualisation of a fingerprint such as a latent fingerprint. The invention also relates to a system incorporating the apparatus with a cartridge and agent, and associated methods and uses for visualising a print on an object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence
    Inventors: Roberto Stefano Pasquale King, Martin Wayne Millington, Andrew Worsfold
  • Patent number: 11935776
    Abstract: A method for electrostatically clamping an edge ring in a plasma processing chamber with an electrostatic ring clamp with at least one ring backside temperature channel for providing a flow of gas to the edge ring is provided. A vacuum is provided to the at least one ring backside temperature channel Pressure in the backside temperature channel is measured. An electrostatic ring clamping voltage is provided when the pressure in the backside temperature channel reaches a threshold maximum pressure. The vacuum to the backside temperature channel is discontinued. Pressure in the backside temperature channel is measured. If pressure in the backside temperature channel rises faster than a threshold rate, then sealing failure is indicated. If pressure in the backside temperature channel does not rise faster than the threshold rate, a plasma process is continued, using the backside temperature channel to regulate a temperature of the edge ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Kimball, Keith Gaff, Feng Wang
  • Patent number: 11932939
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. In some embodiments, a lid for a substrate processing chamber includes: a lid plate comprising an upper surface and a contoured bottom surface, the upper surface having a central opening and the contoured bottom surface having a first portion that extends downwardly and outwardly from the central opening to a peripheral portion of the lid plate and a second portion that extends radially outward along the peripheral portion of the lid plate; an upper flange extending radially outward from the lid plate; and one or more channels formed through the lid plate from the upper surface of the lid plate to the second portion of the contoured bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Muhammad M. Rasheed, Srinivas Gandikota, Mario Dan Sanchez, Guoqiang Jian, Yixiong Yang, Deepak Jadhav, Ashutosh Agarwal
  • Patent number: 11935729
    Abstract: The disclosed substrate support includes a first region, a second region, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first region is configured to hold a substrate placed thereon. The second region is provided to surround the first region and configured to hold an edge ring placed thereon. The first electrode is provided in the first region to receive a first electrical bias. The second electrode is provided in at least the second region to receive a second electrical bias. The second electrode extends below the first electrode to face the first electrode within the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hajime Tamura, Yasuharu Sasaki, Shin Yamaguchi, Tsuguto Sugawara, Katsuyuki Koizumi
  • Patent number: 11926896
    Abstract: An atomic layer deposition apparatus having a reaction chamber arranged inside a vacuum chamber and a fixed gas manifold assembly fixedly provided to the atomic layer deposition apparatus and arranged to supply gases from outside the vacuum chamber to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is a movable reaction chamber which is arranged movable relative to the vacuum chamber and relative to the fixed gas manifold assembly. The atomic layer deposition apparatus further includes a connection arrangement coupling the movable reaction chamber to the fixed gas manifold assembly. The connection arrangement includes a flexible outer flange assembly surrounding the fixed gas manifold assembly, and a first connection surface connecting to a second connection surface of the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: BENEQ OY
    Inventors: Johannes Wesslin, Pekka Soininen, Jonas Andersson
  • Patent number: 11913114
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus including a process chamber and a boat having a support member supporting substrates arranged in a first direction. An inner tube encloses the boat and includes a slit along a side wall. A nozzle supplies a process gas and includes a gas injection port at a position corresponding to the slit. The gas injection port includes a first inlet and first outlet. The slit includes a second inlet and second outlet. A distance to an end of the first inlet from a center line that connects a center of the first inlet and a center of the second outlet is different from the distance from the center line to an end of the first outlet and/or a distance from the center line to an end of the second inlet is different from a distance from the center line to an end of the second outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hyun Yang, Sang Yub Ie, Tae Yong Kim, Phil Ouk Nam
  • Patent number: 11899366
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and apparatus for performing immersion field guided post exposure bake processes. Embodiments of apparatus described herein include a chamber body defining a processing volume. A pedestal may be disposed within the processing volume and a first electrode may be coupled to the pedestal. A moveable stem may extend through the chamber body opposite the pedestal and a second electrode may be coupled to the moveable stem. In certain embodiments, a fluid containment ring may be coupled to the pedestal and a dielectric containment ring may be coupled to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Viachslav Babayan, Douglas A. Buchberger, Jr., Qiwei Liang, Ludovic Godet, Srinivas D. Nemani, Daniel J. Woodruff, Randy Harris, Robert B. Moore
  • Patent number: 11885004
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a mask device and an evaporation device, so as to manufacture a special-shaped display panel, improve the manufacturing efficiency of the special-shaped display panel and lower the cost. The mask device provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a framework and a first strip plate, where the first strip plate is fixed on the framework and extends along the first direction, the first strip plate includes a first area and a second area, and the width of the first area is greater than the width of the second area in the direction parallel to the surface of the first strip plate and vertical to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: WUHAN TIANMA MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD., WUHAN TIANMA MICROELECTRONICS CO., LTD. SHANGHAI BRANCH
    Inventors: Naichao Mu, Yuan Li, Yu Xin, Jun Ma, Lijing Han
  • Patent number: 11887873
    Abstract: A wafer placement apparatus includes a ceramic plate having an upper surface as a wafer placement surface and in which an electrode is embedded; and a cooling plate provided on a lower surface, opposite a wafer placement surface, of a ceramic plate and in which a refrigerant passage is provided, wherein a refrigerant passage includes a first passage forming a single continuous line and extending parallel to a wafer placement surface, and a second passage forming a single continuous line and extending along a first passage, an outlet of a second passage being positioned near an inlet of a first passage, an inlet of a second passage being positioned near an outlet of a first passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Mine, Takumi Wakisaka
  • Patent number: 11885019
    Abstract: A susceptor including a generally circular body having a face with a radially inward section and a radially outward section proximate a circumference of the body, the radially outward section having at least one ring extending upward for contacting a bottom surface of a substrate, and wherein the radially inward section lacks a ring extending upward from the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Mark Hawkins, Matthew G. Goodman, Shawn Thomas
  • Patent number: 11875977
    Abstract: The plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber body, a stage, a gas supply mechanism, a DC power supply, a radio-frequency power supply, and a controller. The gas supply is configured to supply a heat transfer gas to the upper surface of the electrostatic chuck. The controller is configured to control the DC power supply. The controller controls the DC power supply to apply, to the electrostatic chuck, a voltage derived by combining an output of a first function that outputs a smaller value as the absolute value of a self-bias voltage generated according to the plasma becomes larger and an output of a second function that outputs a larger value as the pressure of the heat transfer gas supplied to the upper surface of the electrostatic chuck by the gas supply increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Chishio Koshimizu
  • Patent number: 11866821
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to an apparatus and a method for cleaning a processing chamber. In one embodiment, a substrate support cover includes a bulk member coated with a fluoride coating. The substrate support cover is placed on a substrate support disposed in the processing chamber during a cleaning process. The fluoride coating does not react with the cleaning species. The substrate support cover protects the substrate support from reacting with the cleaning species, leading to reduced condensation formed on chamber components, which in turn leads to reduced contamination of the substrate in subsequent processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuran Sheng, Lin Zhang, Jiyong Huang, Joseph C. Werner, Stanley Wu, Mahesh Adinath Kanawade, Yikai Chen, Yixing Lin, Ying Ma
  • Patent number: 11869764
    Abstract: Described herein is a technique capable of acquiring, monitoring and recording the progress of the reaction between a substrate and a reactive gas contained in a process gas in a process chamber during the processing of the substrate. According to the technique, there is provided a substrate processing apparatus including: a process chamber accommodating a substrate; a process gas supply system configured to supply a process gas into the process chamber via a process gas supply pipe; an exhaust pipe configured to exhaust an inner atmosphere of the process chamber; a first gas concentration sensor configured to detect a first concentration of a reactive gas contained in the process gas in the process gas supply pipe; and a second gas concentration sensor configured to detect a second concentration of the reactive gas contained in an exhaust gas in the exhaust pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akinori Tanaka, Hideto Tateno, Sadayoshi Horii
  • Patent number: 11862439
    Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus for processing a substrate, a processing chamber accommodating the substrate is provided. A mounting table is disposed in the processing chamber and configured to attract and hold the substrate using an electrostatic attractive force. A charge amount measurement unit is disposed in the processing chamber and configured to measure charge amount of a substrate attraction surface of the mounting table. A charge neutralization mechanism is configured to neutralize the substrate attraction surface of the mounting table. A retreating mechanism is configured to make the charge amount measurement unit retreat from a measurement position facing the substrate attraction surface of the mounting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawawa, Hideomi Hosaka, Kouichi Nakajima, Masamichi Hara
  • Patent number: 11848177
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck for a substrate processing system is provided. The electrostatic chuck includes: a top plate configured to electrostatically clamp to a substrate and formed of ceramic; an intermediate layer disposed below the top plate; and a baseplate disposed below the intermediate layer and formed of ceramic. The intermediate layer bonds the top plate to the baseplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Feng Wang, Keith Gaff, Christopher Kimball