Patents by Inventor Andrew Duvall

Andrew Duvall has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11443975
    Abstract: A pedestal for a substrate processing system includes a pedestal body including a substrate-facing surface. An annular band is arranged on the substrate-facing surface that is configured to support a radially outer edge of the substrate. A cavity is defined in the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body and is located radially inside of the annular band. The cavity creates a volume between a bottom surface of the substrate and the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body. A plurality of vents pass though the pedestal body and are in fluid communication with the cavity to equalize pressure on opposing faces of the substrate during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Breiling, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Karl Leeser, Paul Konkola, Adrien LaVoie, Chloe Baldasseroni, Shankar Swaminathan, Ishtak Karim, Yukinori Sakiyama, Edmund Minshall, Sung Je Kim, Andrew Duvall, Frank Pasquale
  • Patent number: 11127567
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a processing chamber defining a reaction volume; a showerhead including: a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber; and a base portion connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extending radially outwardly from the stem portion, where the showerhead is configured to introduce gas into the reaction volume; a plasma generator configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume; and a collar arranged around the stem portion of the showerhead between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber. The collar includes one or more holes to supply purge gas from an inner cavity of the collar to between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Publication number: 20200335304
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes: a processing chamber defining a reaction volume; a showerhead including: a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber; and a base portion connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extending radially outwardly from the stem portion, where the showerhead is configured to introduce gas into the reaction volume; a plasma generator configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume; and a collar arranged around the stem portion of the showerhead between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber. The collar includes one or more holes to supply purge gas from an inner cavity of the collar to between the base portion of the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Publication number: 20200227304
    Abstract: A pedestal for a substrate processing system includes a pedestal body including a substrate-facing surface. An annular band is arranged on the substrate-facing surface that is configured to support a radially outer edge of the substrate. A cavity is defined in the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body and is located radially inside of the annular band. The cavity creates a volume between a bottom surface of the substrate and the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body. A plurality of vents pass though the pedestal body and are in fluid communication with the cavity to equalize pressure on opposing faces of the substrate during processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick Breiling, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Karl Leeser, Paul Konkola, Adrien LaVoie, Chloe Baldasseroni, Shankar Swaminathan, Ishtak Karim, Yukinori Sakiyama, Edmund Minshall, Sung Je Kim, Andrew Duvall, Frank Pasquale
  • Publication number: 20200219757
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a first chamber including a substrate support. A showerhead is arranged above the first chamber and is configured to filter ions and deliver radicals from a plasma source to the first chamber. The showerhead includes a heat transfer fluid plenum, a secondary gas plenum including an inlet to receive secondary gas and a plurality of secondary gas injectors to inject the secondary gas into the first chamber, and a plurality of through holes passing through the showerhead. The through holes are not in fluid communication with the heat transfer fluid plenum or the secondary gas plenum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick BREILING, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Karl Leeser, Paul Konkola, Adrien LaVoie, Chloe Baldasseroni, Shankar Swaminathan, lshtak Karim, Yukinori Sakiyama, Edmund Minshall, Sung Je Kim, Andrew Duvall, Frank Pasquale
  • Patent number: 10665429
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Patent number: 10648079
    Abstract: A process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer is provided, including: a pedestal having, a central top surface having a plurality of wafer supports configured to support the wafer at a support level above the central top surface, an annular surface at a step down from the central top surface; a carrier ring configured to be supported by carrier ring supports such that a bottom surface of the carrier ring is at a first vertical separation above the annular surface, the carrier ring having a step down surface defined relative to a top surface; wherein when the carrier ring is seated on the carrier ring supports, then the step down surface of the carrier ring is positioned at a process level that is at a second vertical separation from the support level over the top surface of the pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Chloe Baldasseroni, Andrew Duvall, Ryan Blaquiere, Shankar Swaminathan
  • Patent number: 10622243
    Abstract: A pedestal for a substrate processing system includes a pedestal body including a substrate-facing surface. An annular band is arranged on the substrate-facing surface that is configured to support a radially outer edge of the substrate. A cavity is defined in the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body and is located radially inside of the annular band. The cavity creates a volume between a bottom surface of the substrate and the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body. A plurality of vents pass through the pedestal body and are in fluid communication with the cavity to equalize pressure on opposing faces of the substrate during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventors: Patrick Breiling, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Karl Leeser, Paul Konkola, Adrien LaVoie, Chloe Baldasseroni, Shankar Swaminathan, Ishtak Karim, Yukinori Sakiyama, Edmund Minshall, Sung Je Kim, Andrew Duvall, Frank Pasquale
  • Publication number: 20180122685
    Abstract: A pedestal for a substrate processing system includes a pedestal body including a substrate-facing surface. An annular band is arranged on the substrate-facing surface that is configured to support a radially outer edge of the substrate. A cavity is defined in the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body and is located radially inside of the annular band. The cavity creates a volume between a bottom surface of the substrate and the substrate-facing surface of the pedestal body. A plurality of vents pass though the pedestal body and are in fluid communication with the cavity to equalize pressure on opposing faces of the substrate during processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Patrick Breiling, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Karl Leeser, Paul Konkola, Adrien LaVoie, Chloe Baldasseroni, Shankar Swaminathan, lshtak Karim, Yukinori Sakiyama, Edmund Minshall, Sung Je Kim, Andrew Duvall, Frank Pasquale
  • Publication number: 20180068833
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Patent number: 9793096
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Publication number: 20170260627
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a showerhead including a stem portion and a head portion. The stem portion is in fluid communication with a process gas source, and the head portion is arranged to provide process gases from the process gas source to a reaction volume of a processing chamber below the showerhead to generate plasma in the reaction volume. A suppressor is arranged above the head portion of the showerhead, extends from the stem portion toward sidewalls of the processing chamber, and is sealed against the sidewalls of the processing chamber or sealed against an enclosure surrounding the suppressor. The suppressor, the sidewalls, and a top surface of the processing chamber, the suppressor and the enclosure, or the suppressor, the enclosure, and the top surface define a partitioned volume of the processing chamber above the showerhead. The partitioned volume is in fluid communication with a purge gas source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Patrick Girard Breiling, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Edmund Minshall, Colin Smith, Andrew Duvall, Karl Leeser
  • Patent number: 9758868
    Abstract: A substrate processing system includes a showerhead including a stem portion and a head portion. The stem portion is in fluid communication with a process gas source, and the head portion is arranged to provide process gases from the process gas source to a reaction volume of a processing chamber below the showerhead to generate plasma in the reaction volume. A suppressor is arranged above the head portion of the showerhead, extends from the stem portion toward sidewalls of the processing chamber, and is sealed against the sidewalls of the processing chamber or sealed against an enclosure surrounding the suppressor. The suppressor, the sidewalls, and a top surface of the processing chamber, the suppressor and the enclosure, or the suppressor, the enclosure, and the top surface define a partitioned volume of the processing chamber above the showerhead. The partitioned volume is in fluid communication with a purge gas source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Patrick Girard Breiling, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Edmund Minshall, Colin Smith, Andrew Duvall, Karl Leeser
  • Patent number: 9428833
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing backside deposition by controlling one or more wafer supports are disclosed. A processing chamber, such as a processing chamber for atomic layer deposition, can include a pedestal and one or more wafer supports configured to extend from the pedestal. A wafer can be provided over the pedestal, the one or more wafer supports can contact the backside of the wafer to support the wafer, and the one or more wafer supports can be positioned to a height to cause an outer edge of the wafer to sag. The outer edge of the wafer can sag to substantially contact the pedestal or a carrier ring surrounding the pedestal. This can create an edge seal to limit access by process gases to the backside of the wafer during a deposition process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Duvall, Chloe Baldasseroni
  • Publication number: 20160177444
    Abstract: A process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer is provided, including: a pedestal having, a central top surface having a plurality of wafer supports configured to support the wafer at a support level above the central top surface, an annular surface at a step down from the central top surface; a carrier ring configured to be supported by carrier ring supports such that a bottom surface of the carrier ring is at a first vertical separation above the annular surface, the carrier ring having a step down surface defined relative to a top surface; wherein when the carrier ring is seated on the carrier ring supports, then the step down surface of the carrier ring is positioned at a process level that is at a second vertical separation from the support level over the top surface of the pedestal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Chloe Baldasseroni, Andrew Duvall, Ryan Blaquiere, Shankar Swaminathan
  • Publication number: 20160079036
    Abstract: A substrate processing system for depositing film on a substrate includes a processing chamber defining a reaction volume. A showerhead includes a stem portion having one end connected adjacent to an upper surface of the processing chamber. A base portion is connected to an opposite end of the stem portion and extends radially outwardly from the stem portion. The showerhead is configured to introduce at least one of process gas and purge gas into the reaction volume. A plasma generator is configured to selectively generate RF plasma in the reaction volume. An edge tuning system includes a collar and a parasitic plasma reducing element that is located around the stem portion between the collar and an upper surface of the showerhead. The parasitic plasma reducing element is configured to reduce parasitic plasma between the showerhead and the upper surface of the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie, Shankar Swaminathan, Jun Qian, Chloe Baldasseroni, Frank Pasquale, Andrew Duvall, Ted Minshall, Jennifer Petraglia, Karl Leeser, David Smith, Sesha Varadarajan, Edward Augustyniak, Douglas Keil
  • Publication number: 20160056032
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of depositing films of material on semiconductor substrates. The methods may include flowing a film precursor into a processing chamber through a showerhead substantially maintained at a first temperature, and adsorbing the film precursor onto a substrate held on a substrate holder such that the precursor forms an adsorption-limited layer while the substrate holder is substantially maintained at a second temperature. The first temperature may be at least about 10° C. above the second temperature, or the first temperature may be at or below the second temperature. The methods may further include removing at least some unadsorbed film precursor from the volume surrounding the adsorbed film precursor, and thereafter reacting adsorbed film precursor to form a film layer. Also disclosed herein are apparatuses having a processing chamber, a substrate holder, a showerhead, and one or more controllers for operating the apparatus to employ the foregoing film deposition techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Chloe Baldasseroni, Adrien LaVoie, Hu Kang, Jun Qian, Purushottam Kumar, Andrew Duvall, Cody Barnett, Mohamed Sabri, Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Karl F. Leeser, David C. Smith, Seshasayee Varadarajan, Edmund B. Minshall
  • Patent number: PP17751
    Abstract: A new and distinct viburnum plant named ‘Duvone’ which is distinguished by the same characteristics which make it a valuable ornamental plant; specifically, abundant spicy fragrant flowers, glossy foliage, multi-hued autumn color developing and holding after most deciduous plants have defoliated, and slow growth and tidy habit suitable for smaller scale low maintenance landscapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Inventor: W. Andrew Duvall