Patents Examined by Michelle Crowell
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Patent number: 11581170Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a first electrode on which a substrate is placed; a plasma generation source that generates plasma; a bias power supply that supplies bias power to the first electrode; a source power supply that supplies source power to the plasma generation source; and a controller. The controller performs a control such that a first state and a second state of the source power are alternately applied in synchronization with a high frequency cycle of the bias power, or a phase within one cycle of a reference electrical state indicating any one of a voltage, a current and an electromagnetic field measured in a power feed system of the bias power, and performs a control to turn OFF the source power at least at a negative side peak of the phase within one cycle of the reference electrical state.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Shinji Kubota, Yuji Aota, Chishio Koshimizu
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Patent number: 11562892Abstract: A dielectric member that is attached to a lower surface of a stage is provided. The stage includes a base provided with a base channel through which a heat exchange medium passes. The dielectric member includes at least one first component including a passage that is connected to the base channel, and a second component surrounding the first component.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Takashi Taira
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Patent number: 11515168Abstract: Disclosed is a capacitively coupled plasma etching apparatus, wherein an electrically conductive supporting rod where a lower electrode is fixed is connected to driving means, the driving means driving the electrically conductive support rod to move axially; besides, the lower electrode is fixed to the bottom of a chamber body via a retractable sealing part, causing the upper surface of the lower electrode to be hermetically sealed in an accommodation space in the chamber body; an electrical connection part is connected on the chamber body; the radio frequency current in the chamber body returns, via the electrical connection part, to the loop end of a radio frequency matcher.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: ADVANCED MICRO-FABRICATION EQUIPMENT INC. CHINAInventors: Yunwen Huang, Tuqiang Ni, Jie Liang, Jinlong Zhao
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Patent number: 11501953Abstract: Plasma processing equipment includes a chuck stage for supporting a wafer and including a lower electrode, an upper electrode disposed on the chuck stage, an AC power supply which applies first to third signals having different magnitudes of frequencies to the upper electrode or the lower electrode, a dielectric ring which surrounds the chuck stage, an edge electrode located within the dielectric ring, and a resonance circuit connected to the edge electrode. The resonance circuit includes a filter circuit which allows only the third signal among the first to third signals to pass, and a series resonance circuit connected in series with the filter circuit and having a first coil and a first variable capacitor connected in series and grounded.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2019Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seung Bo Shim, Doug Yong Sung, Young Jin Noh, Yong Woo Lee, Ji Soo Im, Hyeong Mo Kang, Peter Byung H Han, Cheon Kyu Lee, Masato Horiguchi
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Patent number: 11469085Abstract: In a plasma reactor a pumping compartment is separate from a plasma-treating compartment by a structure which includes a central frame. The frame is suspended to the casing of the reactor via spokes. The spokes allow free expansion and contraction of the frame under thermal loading. The slits between the spokes do not allow plasma ignition there and provide for a small flow resistance between the treatment compartment and the pumping compartment. The frame may act as a downholding member for a substrate on the smaller electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2017Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: EVATEC AGInventors: Jurgen Weichart, Johannes Weichart
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Patent number: 11466366Abstract: An electric discharge generator and power supply device of electric discharge generator includes a radical gas generation apparatus, a process chamber apparatus, and an n-phase inverter power supply device. The radical gas generation apparatus is located adjacent to the process chamber apparatus. The radical gas generation apparatus includes a plurality of (n) discharge cells. The n-phase inverter power supply device includes a power supply circuit configuration offering a means to control output of n-phase alternating current voltages and variably controls, according to positions of the plurality of discharge cells, the alternating current voltages of different phases.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI—ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventors: Yoichiro Tabata, Kensuke Watanabe, Shinichi Nishimura
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Patent number: 11462387Abstract: Examples of a substrate processing apparatus include a stage, an outer peripheral ring that surrounds the stage while provided with a gap between a side surface of the stage and the outer peripheral ring, a gas supply unit configured to supply gas from a lower side of the gap to an upper side of the gap, and an upper electrode provided above the stage.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.Inventor: Yukihiro Mori
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Patent number: 11430636Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including: a processing container; a susceptor configured to serve as a lower electrode and mount a processing target substrate thereon; a shower head provided above the susceptor to supply a processing gas into the processing container; an upper electrode provided above the placing table; a high frequency power supply configured to apply a high frequency power to the susceptor to generate plasma of the processing gas within the processing container; and a DC voltage application unit configured to apply a DC voltage to the upper electrode. The shower head includes a UEL base, and a CEL provided on the UEL base at susceptor side, and an insulating portion provided between the UEL base and the CEL. The DC power supply applies the DC voltage to the CEL.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Syuichi Takahashi
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Patent number: 11424108Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus capable of obtaining desired etch profiles and preventing the degradation of yield rates due to the adhesion of particles, and equipped with a processing chamber in which a sample is plasma-treated; a radio-frequency power source for supplying radio-frequency power used to generate plasma; a sample stage which is provided with electrodes for electrostatically adsorbing the sample and on which the sample is mounted; and a DC power supply for applying DC voltages to the electrodes, the apparatus being further equipped with a control apparatus for controlling the DC power supply so as to apply such DC voltages as to decrease the absolute value of the potential of the sample in the absence of the plasma.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Kazuyuki Ikenaga, Masaki Ishiguro, Masahiro Sumiya, Shigeru Shirayone
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Patent number: 11424104Abstract: A plasma reactor includes a chamber body having an interior space that provides a plasma chamber and having a ceiling, a gas distributor to deliver a processing gas to the plasma chamber, a pump coupled to the plasma chamber to evacuate the chamber, a workpiece support to hold a workpiece, and an intra-chamber electrode assembly. The intra-chamber electrode assembly includes an insulating frame, a first plurality of coplanar filaments that extend laterally through the plasma chamber between the ceiling and the workpiece support along a first direction, and a second plurality of coplanar filaments that extend in parallel through the plasma chamber along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each filament of the first and second plurality of filaments includes a conductor at least partially surrounded by an insulating shell. A first RF power source supplies a first RF power to the conductor of the intra-chamber electrode assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2017Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kenneth S. Collins, Michael R. Rice, Kartik Ramaswamy, James D. Carducci
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Patent number: 11355320Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma generator provided with a plasma electrode and performs plasma processing on a substrate accommodated in a processing container. At least a region corresponding to the plasma electrode of the plasma generator is formed of synthetic quartz.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Hiroyuki Matsuura
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Patent number: 11345996Abstract: A liner assembly for a substrate processing system includes a first liner and a second liner. The first liner includes an annular body and an outer peripheral surface including a first fluid guide. The first fluid guide is curved about a circumferential line extending around the first liner. The second liner includes an annular body, an outer rim, an inner rim, a second fluid guide extending between the outer rim and the inner rim, and a plurality of partition walls extending outwardly from the second fluid guide. The second fluid guide is curved about the circumferential line when the first and second liners are positioned within the processing system.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: GlobalWafers Co., Ltd.Inventors: Arash Abedijaberi, Shawn George Thomas
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Patent number: 11276562Abstract: A system for modifying the uniformity pattern of a thin film deposited in a plasma processing chamber includes a single radio-frequency (RF) power source that is coupled to multiple points on the discharge electrode of the plasma processing chamber. Positioning of the multiple coupling points, a power distribution between the multiple coupling points, or a combination of both are selected to at least partially compensate for a consistent non-uniformity pattern of thin films produced by the chamber. The power distribution between the multiple coupling points may be produced by an appropriate RF phase difference between the RF power applied at each of the multiple coupling points.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2020Date of Patent: March 15, 2022Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Zheng John Ye, Ganesh Balasubramanian, Thuy Britcher, Jay D. Pinson, II, Hiroji Hanawa, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Martin Jay Seamons, Bok Hoen Kim, Sungwon Ha
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Patent number: 11170991Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including: a first electrode to which a high frequency power is supplied; a second electrode that functions as a counter electrode with respect to the first electrode; a plurality of dielectric units arranged between plasma generated between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the second electrode; and a controller that controls an impedance between the plasma and the second electrode via each of the dielectric units by independently controlling a position or a dielectric constant of each of the dielectric units.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2018Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Ryota Sakane
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Patent number: 11152192Abstract: To improve processing uniformity by improving a working characteristic in an edge exclusion region. Provided is a plasma processing apparatus for processing a sample by generating plasma in a vacuum vessel to which a processing gas is supplied and that is exhausted to a predetermined pressure and by applying a radio frequency bias to a sample placed in the vacuum vessel, wherein a conductive radio frequency ring to which a radio frequency bias power is applied is arranged in a stepped part formed outside a convex part of the sample stage on which the wafer is mounted, and a dielectric cover ring is provided in the stepped part, covering the radio frequency ring, the cover ring substantially blocks penetration of the radio frequency power to the plasma from the radio frequency ring, and the radio frequency ring top surface is set higher than a wafer top surface.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATIONInventors: Naoki Yasui, Norihiko Ikeda, Tooru Aramaki, Yasuhiro Nishimori
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Patent number: 11145490Abstract: A plasma processing method for a workpiece in a plasma processing apparatus includes (i) performing a first plasma processing on a workpiece, and (ii) performing a second plasma processing on the workpiece. Power of second radio frequency waves set in the second plasma processing is greater than the power of the second radio frequency waves set in the first plasma processing. In the second plasma processing, a magnetic field distribution having a horizontal component on an edge side of the workpiece greater than a horizontal component on a center of the workpiece is formed by an electromagnet.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2019Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Akihiro Yokota, Takanori Banse, Joji Takayoshi, Shinya Morikita, Naohiko Okunishi
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Patent number: 11135626Abstract: A substrate dry cleaning apparatus, a substrate dry cleaning system, and a method of cleaning a substrate are disclosed. The substrate dry cleaning system includes a substrate support and a reactive species generator. The reactive species generator includes a first conduit defining a first flow channel that extends to an outlet of the first conduit, the outlet of the first conduit facing the substrate support, a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, the first flow channel disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, a first inert wall disposed between the first electrode and the first flow channel, and a second inert wall disposed between the second electrode and the first flow channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2017Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Assignee: Bruker Nano, Inc.Inventors: Gordon Scott Swanson, Ivin Varghese, Mehdi Balooch
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Patent number: 11081322Abstract: A film forming apparatus 1 includes a plasma generating mechanism 47 commonly used for plasmarizing a processing gas and a cleaning gas supplied into a processing vessel 11 in which a vacuum atmosphere is formed; an exhaust device 17 configured to evacuate an exhaust line 61 connected to a processing gas discharge unit 43 while the plasmarization of the cleaning gas is being performed by the plasma generating mechanism 47; a tank 62 provided at the exhaust line 61; and a valve V2 which is provided at the exhaust line 61 between the tank 62 and the processing gas discharge unit 43. The valve V2 is configured to be closed to reduce an internal pressure of the tank 62 and opened to attract the plasmarized cleaning gas into the tank 62 from a processing space 40 through the processing gas discharge unit 43.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: August 3, 2021Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Naotaka Noro, Toshio Hasegawa, Tamaki Takeyama, Shinya Iwashita, Katsuhito Hirose
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Patent number: 11043361Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a capacitively coupled plasma source in which VHF power is applied through an impedance-matching coaxial resonator having a symmetrical power distribution.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2017Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kartik Ramaswamy, Igor Markovsky, Zhigang Chen, James D. Carducci, Kenneth S. Collins, Shahid Rauf, Nipun Misra, Leonid Dorf, Zheng John Ye
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Patent number: 10964511Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing device includes a plasma chamber, a source power supply, and first and second bias power supplies. The source power supply applies a first source voltage to the plasma chamber at a first time and a second source voltage to the plasma chamber at a second time. The first bias power supply applies a first turn-on voltage to the plasma chamber at the first time and a first turn-off voltage to the plasma chamber at the second time. The second bias power supply applies a second turn-off voltage to the plasma chamber at the first time and a second turn-on voltage to the plasma chamber at the second time. The plasma chamber forms plasmas of different conditions from a gas mixture in the plasma chamber based on the source, turn-on, and turn-off voltages.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Seung Bo Shim, Myung Sun Choi, Nam Jun Kang, Doug Yong Sung, Sang Min Jeong, Peter Byung H Han