Patents Examined by Jeffrie R. Lund
  • Patent number: 11674225
    Abstract: There is provided a substrate processing apparatus for performing film formation by supplying a processing gas to a substrate, including: a rotary table provided in a processing container; a mounting stand provided to mount the substrate and configured to be revolved by rotating the rotary table; a processing gas supply part configured to supply a processing gas to a region through which the mounting stand passes by the rotation of the rotary table; a rotation shaft rotatably provided in a portion rotating together with the rotary table and configured to support the mounting stand; a driven gear provided on the rotation shaft; a driving gear provided along an entire circumference of a revolution trajectory of the driven gear to face the revolution trajectory of the driven gear and configured to constitute a magnetic gear mechanism with the driven gear; and a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the driving gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMTED
    Inventors: Hitoshi Kato, Yukio Ohizumi, Manabu Honma, Takeshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11670490
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor fabrication apparatus. The semiconductor apparatus includes a processing chamber; a substrate stage provided in the processing chamber and being configured to secure and rotate a semiconductor wafer; a gas injector configured to inject a chemical to the processing chamber; a window attached to the gas injector; and an adjustable fastening device coupled with the gas injector and the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Shun Hsu, Ching-Yu Chang, Chiao-Kai Chang, Wai Hong Cheah, Chien-Fang Lin
  • Patent number: 11637037
    Abstract: Tin oxide films are used to create air gaps during semiconductor substrate processing. Tin oxide films, disposed between exposed layers of other materials, such as SiO2 and SiN can be selectively etched using a plasma formed in an Hz-containing process gas. The etching creates a recessed feature in place of the tin oxide between the surrounding materials. A third material, such as SiO2 is deposited over the resulting recessed feature without fully filling the recessed feature, forming an air gap. A method for selectively etching tin oxide in a presence of SiO2, SiC, SiN, SiOC, SiNO, SiCNO, or SiCN, includes, in some embodiments, contacting the substrate with a plasma formed in a process gas comprising at least about 50% Hz. Etching of tin oxide can be performed without using an external bias at the substrate and is preferably performed at a temperature of less than about 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick van Cleemput, Seshasayee Varadarajan, Bart J. van Schravendijk
  • Patent number: 11624113
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to temperature zone control systems can include a reactant source cabinet that is configured to be at least partially evacuated, a vessel base that is configured to hold solid source chemical reactant therein, and a lid that is coupled to a distal portion of the vessel base. The lid may include one or more lid valves. The system may further include a plurality of gas panel valves that are configured to deliver gas from a gas source to the vessel. The system may include a heating element that is configured to heat the one or more lid valves. The system may include a heat shield, a first portion of which is disposed between the one or more lid valves and the vessel base. A second portion of the heat shield may be disposed between the first heating element and the plurality of gas panel valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Carl Louis White, Eric James Shero, Kyle Fondurulia
  • Patent number: 11613809
    Abstract: Provided is a solid vaporization/supply system of metal halide for thin film deposition that reduces particle contamination. The system includes a vaporizable source material container for storing and vaporizing a metal halide and buffer tank coupled with the vaporizable source material container. The vaporizable source material container includes a container main body with a container wall; a lid body; fastening members; and joint members, wherein the container wall is configured to have a double-wall structure composed of an inner wall member and outer wall member, which allows a carrier gas to be led into the container main body via its space. The container wall is fabricated of 99 to 99.9999% copper, 99 to 99.9996% aluminum, or 99 to 99.9996% titanium, and wherein the container main body, the lid body, the fastening members, and the joint members are treated by fluorocarbon polymer coating and/or by electrolytic polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOJUNDO CHEMICAL LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Itsuki, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11600517
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a system includes: a gas distributor assembly configured to dispense gas into a chamber; and a chuck assembly configured to secure a wafer within the chamber, wherein at least one of the gas distributor assembly and the chuck assembly includes: a first portion comprising a convex protrusion, and a second portion comprising a concave opening, wherein the convex protrusion is configured to engage the concave opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo-Ru Chen, Yan-Hong Liu, Che-Fu Chen
  • Patent number: 11600468
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to gas line systems with a multichannel splitter spool. In these embodiments, the gas line systems will include a first gas line that is configured to supply a first gas. The first gas line is coupled to a multichannel splitter spool with a plurality of second gas lines into which the first gas flows. Each gas line of the plurality of second gas lines will have a smaller volume than the volume of the first gas line. The smaller second gas lines will be wrapped by a heater jacket. Due to the smaller volume of the second gas lines, when the first gas is flowed through the second gas lines, the heater jacket will sufficiently heat the first gas, eliminating the condensation induced particle defects that occur in conventional gas line systems when the first gas meets with a second gas in the gas line system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhu Santosh Kumar Mutyala, Sanjay G. Kamath, Deenesh Padhi, Arkajit Roy Barman
  • Patent number: 11581186
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a sequential infiltration synthesis apparatus comprising: a reaction chamber constructed and arranged to accommodate at least one substrate; a first precursor flow path to provide the first precursor to the reaction chamber when a first flow controller is activated; a second precursor flow path to provide a second precursor to the reaction chamber when a second flow controller is activated; a removal flow path to allow removal of gas from the reaction chamber; a removal flow controller to create a gas flow in the reaction chamber to the removal flow path when the removal flow controller is activated; and, a sequence controller operably connected to the first, second and removal flow controllers and the sequence controller being programmed to enable infiltration of an infiltrateable material provided on the substrate in the reaction chamber. The apparatus may be provided with a heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Ivo Johannes Raaijmakers, Jan Willem Maes, Werner Knaepen, Krzysztof Kamil Kachel
  • Patent number: 11572625
    Abstract: There is provided a rotation detection jig used for an apparatus in which a substrate is processed inside a processing container by rotating a mounting stand for a substrate provided on one surface side of a rotary table while revolving the mounting stand with rotation of the rotary table, and supplying a processing gas to a region through which the mounting stand passes, including: a rotating element configured to rotate about a rotation shaft of the mounting stand; an encoder main body configured to detect a rotation angle of the rotating element and configured to constitute a rotary encoder together with the rotating element; a fixing member configured to fix the encoder main body to a rotating portion including the rotary table; and a signal processing part provided in the rotating portion and configured to process a detection signal detected by the encoder main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Takeshi Kobayashi, Hitoshi Kato, Yukio Ohizumi
  • Patent number: 11566326
    Abstract: Provided is a vaporizable source material container having excellent corrosion resistance. The vaporizable source material container for storing and vaporizing a metal halide for thin film deposition S includes: a container main body including a container wall; a lid body provided with a carrier gas inlet and a mixed gas outlet; fastening members for fixing the container main body with the lid body; and joint members, wherein the container wall of the container main body is fabricated of copper with 99 to 99.9999% purity, aluminum with 99 to 99.9999% purity, or titanium with 99 to 99.9999% purity, and the container main body, the lid body, the fastening members and the joint members are each treated by fluorocarbon polymer coating and/or by electrolytic polishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KOJUNDO CHEMICAL LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Itsuki, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11549180
    Abstract: Apparatus for atomic layer deposition on a surface of a substrate includes a precursor injector head. The precursor injector head includes a precursor supply and a deposition space that in use is bounded by the precursor injector head and the substrate surface. The precursor injector head is arranged for injecting a precursor gas from the precursor supply into the deposition space for contacting the substrate surface. The apparatus is arranged for relative motion between the deposition space and the substrate in a plane of the substrate surface. The apparatus is provided with a confining structure arranged for confining the injected precursor gas to the deposition space adjacent to the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
    Inventors: Diederik Jan Maas, Bob van Someren, Axel Sebastiaan Lexmond, Carolus Ida Maria Antonius Spee, Antonie Ellert Duisterwinkel, Adrianus Johannes Petrus Maria Vermeer
  • Patent number: 11542602
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a processing container; an injector provided inside the processing container and having a shape extending in a longitudinal direction along which a processing gas is supplied; a holder fixed to the injector; a first magnet fixed to the holder and disposed inside the processing container; a second magnet separated from the first magnet by a partition plate and disposed outside the processing container; and a driving part configured to rotate the second magnet, wherein the first magnet and the second magnet are magnetically coupled to each other, and wherein by rotating the second magnet by the driving part, the first magnet magnetically coupled to the second magnet is rotated, and the injector rotates about the longitudinal direction as an axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Miura
  • Patent number: 11542601
    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: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Hidenari Yoshida, Takeo Hanashima, Hiroaki Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 11545626
    Abstract: A deposition mask assembly for manufacturing a plurality of display devices includes a frame having an opening area, a first open mask disposed on the frame and having a first body portion defining a plurality of patterns overlapping the opening area, and a second open mask disposed on the first open mask and having a second body portion defining a plurality of opening portions overlapping the patterns of the first open mask, in which each of the patterns includes an auxiliary pattern spaced apart from the first body portion and a first bridge pattern connecting the first body portion and the auxiliary pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinyeong Kim, Haseok Jeon
  • Patent number: 11532461
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing vessel; a placing table provided within the processing vessel and configured to place a substrate thereon; and a component disposed between the processing vessel and the placing table, the component constituting an anode. The component has a flow path through which a heat exchange medium flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Michishige Saito, Shota Kaneko, Shuhei Yamabe
  • Patent number: 11515195
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a chamber body. The chambers may include a showerhead. The chambers may include a substrate support. The substrate support may include a platen characterized by a first surface facing the showerhead. The substrate support may include a shaft coupled with the platen along a second surface of the platen opposite the first surface of the platen. The shaft may extend at least partially through the chamber body. A coating may extend conformally about the first surface of the platen, the second surface of the platen, and about the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Laksheswar Kalita
  • Patent number: 11508562
    Abstract: An embodiment low contamination chamber includes a gas inlet, an adjustable top electrode, and an adjustable bottom electrode. The low contamination chamber is configured to adjust a distance between the adjustable top electrode and the adjustable bottom electrode in response to a desired density of plasma and a measured density of plasma measured between the adjustable top electrode and the adjustable bottom electrode during a surface activation process. The low contamination chamber further includes an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Ping-Yin Liu, Xin-Hua Huang, Lee-Chuan Tseng, Lan-Lin Chao
  • Patent number: 11508611
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein generally provide a lift pin that can improve the deposition rate and uniform film thickness above lift pin areas. In one implementation, the lift pin includes a first end coupling to a shaft, the first end having a pin head, and the pin head having a top surface, wherein the top surface is planar and flat, and a second end coupling to the shaft, the second end having a flared portion, wherein the flared portion has an outer surface extended along a direction that is at an angle of about 110° to about 140° with respect to a longitudinal axis of the lift pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalyanjit Ghosh, Mayur G. Kulkarni, Sanjeev Baluja, Praket P. Jha, Krishna Nittala
  • Patent number: 11492701
    Abstract: Herein disclosed are systems and methods related to semiconductor processing device including a manifold including a bore configured to deliver a gas to a reaction chamber, the manifold including a first block mounted to a second block, the first and second mounted blocks cooperating to at least partially define the bore. A supply channel provides fluid communication between a gas source and the bore, and the supply channel is disposed at least partially in the second block. A metallic seal is disposed about the bore at an interface between the first and second block. Advantageously, the metallic seal improves sealing between the interface between the first block and the second block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ASM IP HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Dinkar Nandwana, Jereld Lee Winkler, Eric James Shero, Todd Robert Dunn, Carl Louis White
  • Patent number: 11495445
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber where a plasma processing is performed on a workpiece, a stage, an edge ring, a shield, and a driver. The stage has a placement surface on which the workpiece is placed inside the processing chamber. The edge ring is provided around the stage so as to surround the workpiece on the placement surface. The shield is capable of shielding a portion of the surface of the edge ring from plasma generated in the processing chamber. The driver changes the area of the edge ring exposed to the plasma by moving the shield relative to the edge ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yohei Uchida, Yusuke Mizuno