Patents Examined by Michelle Crowell
  • Patent number: 10026596
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a cylindrical shaped chamber configured to accommodate a substrate; a movable electrode capable of moving along a central axis of the cylindrical shaped chamber within the cylindrical shaped chamber; a facing electrode facing the movable electrode within the cylindrical shaped chamber; and an expansible/contractible partition wall connecting the movable electrode with an end wall on one side of the cylindrical shaped chamber. A high frequency power is applied to a first space between the movable electrode and the facing electrode, a processing gas is introduced thereto, and the movable electrode is not in contact with a sidewall of the cylindrical shaped chamber, a first dielectric member is provided at the cylindrical shaped chamber's sidewall facing the movable electrode, and an overlap area between the first dielectric member and a side surface of the movable electrode is changed according to movement of the movable electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Daisuke Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9991096
    Abstract: Provided is a plasma processing apparatus in which a variable inductor is installed in series with a variable condenser in a second power feeding unit that distributes and supplies high-frequency power to an inner upper electrode 56. As a result, a characteristic around a resonance point may be broad in a capacitance-outer/inner power distribution ratio of the variable condenser (varicon). Therefore, an area around the resonance point may be stably used as a controllable area within a variable range of varicon capacitance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Toshio Haga
  • Patent number: 9982343
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing plasma to a process chamber may include an electrode; a first ground plate disposed beneath the electrode defining a cavity therebetween; an insulator disposed between the electrode and first ground plate to prevent direct contact therebetween; a second ground plate disposed beneath the first ground plate defining a first channel; a plurality of first through holes through the first ground plate to fluidly couple the channel and cavity; a first gas inlet coupled to the first channel; a third ground plate disposed beneath the second ground plate defining a second channel; a plurality of conduits through the ground plates to fluidly couple the cavity to an area beneath the third ground plate; a plurality of gas outlet holes through the third ground plate to fluidly couple the second channel to the area beneath the third ground plate; and a second gas inlet coupled to the second channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Teh Kao, Hyman W. H. Lam
  • Patent number: 9966233
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus of exciting a processing gas into plasma by applying a high frequency power between an upper electrode and a lower electrode provided within a processing chamber and performing a plasma process on a target object to be processed with the plasma includes a DC power supply configured to apply a DC voltage to the upper electrode; a ground electrode connected to the DC power supply; and an annular shield member provided outside the ground electrode. A groove is formed into a downward recess at an outer peripheral portion of the ground electrode, and an upper end of the shield member is positioned above an upper end of the peripheral portion of the ground electrode. A protruding portion, which is protruded toward a center of the ground electrode, is formed at a portion of the shield member positioned above the ground electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Hanaoka
  • Patent number: 9953809
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating a film in a container and a method for coating a film are provided. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing having a containing space penetrating through both ends thereof; a first arc-shaped electrode and a second arc-shaped electrode surrounding and covering an outer side of the cylindrical housing with a gap formed between the first and second arc-shaped electrodes such that the first arc-shaped electrode is free from electrically connected to the second arc-shaped electrode; a first conductive ring and a second conductive ring surrounding on the first and second arc-shaped electrodes, respectively; an upper supporting seat and a lower supporting seat disposed at the both ends of the cylindrical housing, respectively, to form a sealed environment for the containing space; and a valve component furnished at the upper supporting seat and inserted into the container for providing a processing gas in a film-coating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Chih-Chiang Weng, Chen-Der Tsai, Yu-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 9922803
    Abstract: The invention provides a plasma processing device, wherein the upper electrode and the lower electrode are in the vacuum chamber. The chip is placed in the lower electrode. The first plate is placed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and the first plate includes a plurality of first voids. The second plate is placed between the first plate and the lower electrode, and the second plate includes a plurality of second voids. The high frequency power is provided by the upper electrode and the lower electrode in the vacuum chamber, and the plasma is generated between the third plate and the upper electrode. The plasma is filtered by the third void, the first void, and the second void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CHANG GUNG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Hsien Huang, Chao-Sung Lai, Chien Chou, Chu-Fa Chan
  • Patent number: 8524005
    Abstract: A heat-transfer structure which can keep a consumable component at a temperature of 225° C. or less during etching of a substrate. The heat-transfer structure is disposed in a chamber where plasma processing is performed on a wafer as the substrate under a reduced pressure. The heat-transfer structure is comprised of a focus ring having an exposed surface exposed to plasma, a susceptor and an electrostatic chuck that cool the consumable component, and a heat-transfer sheet interposed between the focus ring and the electrostatic chuck and made of a gel-like material. The ratio of hardness of the heat-transfer sheet expressed in Asker C to thermal conductivity of the heat-transfer sheet expressed in W/m·K is less than 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masaaki Miyagawa, Tetsuji Sato
  • Patent number: 8460470
    Abstract: A vapor phase deposition apparatus includes a chamber, a support table arranged in the chamber, and having a first support unit which is in contact with a back side surface of a substrate and on which the substrate is placed and a second support unit which is connected to the first support unit to support the first support unit, a heat source arranged at a position having a distance from a back side surface of the substrate, the distance being larger than a distance between back side surface of the support table and the heat source, and which heats the substrate, a first flow path configured to supply a gas to form a film into the chamber, and a second flow path configured to exhaust the gas from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: NuFlare Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hironobu Hirata, Akira Jyogo, Yoshikazu Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8361276
    Abstract: An arcless, atmospheric-pressure plasma generating apparatus capable of producing a large-area, temperature-controlled, stable discharge at power densities between about 0.1 W/cm3 and about 200 W/cm3, while having an operating gas temperature of less than 50° C., for processing materials outside of the discharge, is described. The apparatus produces active chemical species, including gaseous metastables and radicals which may be used for polymerization (either free radical-induced or through dehydrogenation-based polymerization), surface cleaning and modification, etching, adhesion promotion, and sterilization, as examples. The invention may include either a cooled rf-driven electrode or a cooled ground electrode, or two cooled electrodes, wherein active components of the plasma may be directed out of the plasma and onto an external workpiece without simultaneously exposing a material to the electrical influence or ionic components of the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Apjet, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary S. Selwyn
  • Patent number: 7976673
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing a plasma etch of a layer over a wafer is provided. A capacitively coupled process chamber is provided. A gas source is provided. A first and a second electrode are provided within the process chamber. A first radio frequency power source is electrically connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes, where the first radio frequency power source provides radio frequency power. A second radio frequency power source is electrically connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes. A first modulation control is connected to the first radio frequency power source, to provide a controlled modulation of the first radio frequency power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Loewenhardt, Mukund Srinivasan, Andreas Fischer
  • Patent number: 7972469
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to plasma processing apparatus and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments, a plasma control magnet assembly includes a plurality of magnets arranged in a predetermined pattern that generate a magnetic field having a strength greater than 10 Gauss in a region proximate the assembly and less than 10 Gauss in a region remote from the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroji Hanawa, Andrew Nguyen, Keiji Horioka, Kallol Bera, Kenneth S. Collins, Lawrence Wong, Martin Jeff Salinas, Roger A. Lindley, Hong S. Yang
  • Patent number: 7943007
    Abstract: A device for cleaning a bevel edge of a semiconductor substrate. The device includes: a lower support having a cylindrical top portion; a lower plasma-exclusion-zone (PEZ) ring surrounding the outer edge of the top portion and adapted to support the substrate; an upper dielectric component opposing the lower support and having a cylindrical bottom portion; an upper PEZ ring surrounding the outer edge of the bottom portion and opposing the lower PEZ ring; and at least one radiofrequency (RF) power source operative to energize process gas into plasma in an annular space defined by the upper and lower PEZ rings, wherein the annular space encloses the bevel edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Bailey, III, Alan M. Schoepp, Gregory Sexton, Yunsang Kim, William S. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 7879184
    Abstract: An apparatus used for rapid removal of polymer films from plasma confinement rings while minimizing erosion of other plasma etch chamber components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a center assembly, an electrode plate, a confinement ring stack, a first plasma source, and a second plasma source. The electrode plate is affixed to a surface of the center assembly with a channel defined along the external circumference therein. A first plasma source is disposed within the channel and along the external circumference of the center assembly, wherein the first plasma source is configured to direct a plasma to the inner circumferential surface of the confinement ring stack. A second plasma source located away from the first plasma source is configured to perform processing operations on a substrate within the etch chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Hudson, Andreas Fischer
  • Patent number: 7878145
    Abstract: A plasma ion implantation system includes a process chamber, a source for producing a plasma in the process chamber, a platen for holding a substrate in the process chamber and a pulse source for generating implant pulses for accelerating ions from the plasma into the substrate. In one aspect, the system includes a plasma monitor configured to measure ion mass and energy in the process chamber and an analyzer configured to determine an operating condition of the system in response to the measured mass and energy. In another aspect, the system includes a data acquisition unit configured to acquire samples of the implant pulses and analyzer configured to determine an operating condition of the system based on the acquired samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Ziwei Fang, Sung-Cheon Ko, Edmund J. Winder, Daniel Distaso, Ludovic Godet, Bon Woong Koo, Jay T. Scheuer
  • Patent number: 7861667
    Abstract: An improved upper electrode system has a multi-part electrode in which a central portion of the electrode having high wear is replaceable independent of an outer peripheral portion of the electrode. The upper electrode can be used in plasma processing systems for processing semiconductor substrates, such as by etching or CVD. The multi-part upper electrode system is particularly useful for large size wafer processing chambers, such as 300 mm wafer processing chambers for which monolithic electrodes are unavailable or costly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Fischer, William S. Kennedy, Peter Loewenhardt, David Trussell
  • Patent number: 7846293
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a worktable in a process chamber to horizontally place a target substrate thereon. A plasma generation space is defined above and around the worktable within the process chamber. The plasma generation space includes a peripheral plasma region and a main plasma region respectively located outside and inside an outer edge of the target substrate placed on the worktable. The apparatus further includes a magnetic field forming mechanism configured to form a magnetic field within the peripheral plasma region. The magnetic field includes magnetic force lines extending through the peripheral plasma region between a start position and an end position, at least one of which is located radially inside a sidewall of the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masahide Iwasaki, Tomoaki Ukei
  • Patent number: 7837825
    Abstract: A plasma reactor comprises a chamber, a bottom electrode, a top electrode, a first set of confinement rings, a second set of confinement rings, and a ground extension. The top and bottom electrodes, the first and second sets of confinement rings, and the ground extension are all enclosed within the chamber. The first set of confinement rings is substantially parallel to the bottom electrode and the top electrode and surrounds a first volume between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The second set of confinement rings is substantially parallel to the bottom electrode and the top electrode and surrounds a second volume between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The second volume is at least greater than the first volume. A ground extension is adjacent to and surrounds the bottom electrode. The first set of confinement rings and the second set of confinement rings are capable of being raised and lowered to extend into a region above the ground extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: Andreas Fischer
  • Patent number: 7837827
    Abstract: A method for processing a substrate in a plasma processing chamber is provided. The substrate is disposed above a chuck and surrounded by a first edge ring. The first edge ring is electrically isolated from the chuck. The method includes providing a second edge ring. The second edge ring is disposed below an edge of the substrate. The method also includes providing a coupling ring. The coupling ring is configured to facilitate RF coupling from an ESC (electrostatic chuck) assembly to the first edge ring, thereby causing the first edge ring to have an edge ring potential during substrate processing and causing the RF coupling to be maximized at the first edge ring and minimized at the second edge ring during the substrate processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Rajinder Dhindsa, Alexei Marakhtanov
  • Patent number: 7823537
    Abstract: A plasma generator for forming a thin film comprises a cathode (4) for supplying constituent particles of an arc plasma and a trigger-and-anode (6) for starting and sustaining the arc plasma. The cathode surface (4a) of the cathode (4) is flat or finely irregular, and the anode surface (6c) of the trigger-and-anode (6) brought into contact with the cathode surface (4a) is flat. The anode surface (6c) is so arranged as to be brought into contact with the whole cathode surface (4a) when plasma is started. The contact point between a fine projection end (4b) of the cathode surface (4a) and the anode surface (6c) is made a plasma emission point. When the projection is consumed by plasma emission, another projection end which can be brought into contact with the anode surface (6c) is used as another plasma emission point, thus enabling intermittent operation of persistently repeating the sequence operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Ferrotec Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Shiina, Hirofumi Takikawa
  • Patent number: 7820007
    Abstract: This silicon electrode plate for plasma etching is a silicon electrode plate for plasma etching with superior durability including silicon single crystal which, in terms of atomic ratio, contains 3 to 11 ppba of boron, and further contains a total of 0.5 to 6 ppba of either or both of phosphorus and arsenic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignees: Sumco Corporation, Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Fujiwara, Kazuhiro Ikezawa, Hiroaki Taguchi, Naofumi Iwamoto, Toshinori Ishii, Takashi Komekyu