Patents by Inventor Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM

Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM 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: 11980992
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to integrated abrasive (IA) polishing pads, and methods of manufacturing IA polishing pads using, at least in part, surface functionalized abrasive particles in an additive manufacturing process, such as a 3D inkjet printing process. In one embodiment, a method of forming a polishing article includes dispensing a first plurality of droplets of a first precursor, curing the first plurality of droplets to form a first layer comprising a portion of a sub-polishing element, dispensing a second plurality of droplets of the first precursor and a second precursor onto the first layer, and curing the second plurality of droplets to form a second layer comprising portions of the sub-polishing element and portions of a plurality of polishing elements. Here, the second precursor includes functionalized abrasive particles having a polymerizable group chemically bonded to surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashavani Kumar, Ashwin Chockalingam, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Rajeev Bajaj, Boyi Fu, Daniel Redfield, Nag B. Patibandla, Mario Dagio Cornejo, Amritanshu Sinha, Yan Zhao, Ranga Rao Arnepalli, Fred C. Redeker
  • Publication number: 20240123568
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to advanced polishing pads with tunable chemical, material and structural properties, and methods of manufacturing the same. According to one or more embodiments, a method for forming or otherwise preparing a polishing article by sequentially forming a plurality of polymer layers is provided and includes: (a) dispensing a plurality of droplets of a polymer precursor composition onto a surface of a previously formed at least partially cured polymer layer, where the polymer precursor composition contains a first precursor component containing an epoxide group and a photoinitiator component which generates a photoacid when exposed to UV light, (b) at least partially curing the plurality of droplets to form an at least partially cured polymer layer, and (c) repeating (a) and (b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Sivapackia GANAPATHIAPPAN, Boyi FU, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM, Daniel REDFIELD, Rajeev BAJAJ, Mahendra C. ORILALL, Hou T. NG, Jason G. FUNG, Mayu YAMAMURA
  • Patent number: 11951590
    Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to polishing pads and methods of forming polishing pads. A polishing pad includes a plurality of polishing elements and a plurality of grooves disposed between the polishing elements. Each polishing element includes a plurality of individual posts. Each post includes an individual surface that forms a portion of a polishing surface of the polishing pad and one or more sidewalls extending downwardly from the individual surface. The sidewalls of the plurality of individual posts define a plurality of pores disposed between the posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Shiyan Akalanka Jayanath Wewala Gonnagahadeniyage, Ashwin Chockalingam, Jason Garcheung Fung, Veera Raghava Reddy Kakireddy, Nandan Baradanahalli Kenchappa, Puneet Narendra Jawali, Rajeev Bajaj
  • Patent number: 11851570
    Abstract: Polishing articles and methods of manufacturing polishing articles used in polishing processes and cleaning processes are provided. More particularly, implementations disclosed herein relate to composite polishing articles having tunable properties such as hydrophilicity and zeta potential. 3D printed chemical-mechanical planarization (CMP) pads composed of UV curable acrylic chemistry are generally hydrophobic in nature. Such hydrophobic behavior affects the wetting properties with abrasive-based polishing slurries such as ceria-base slurries. However, in order to increase the planarization and removal rate while decreasing defects, hydrophilic pads are preferred. In addition, it is desirable that the zeta potential (Zp) of the pads be tunable over a wide range of conditions at different pH values. Implementations of the present disclosure include methods for increasing the hydrophilicity and tuning the Zp of the pads with anionic additives and pads produced using these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Uma Sridhar, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Ashwin Chockalingam, Yingdong Luo, Daniel Redfield, Rajeev Bajaj, Nag B. Patibandla, Hou T. Ng, Sudhakar Madhusoodhanan
  • Patent number: 11826876
    Abstract: In one implementation, a method of forming a porous polishing pad is provided. The method comprises depositing a plurality of composite layers with a 3D printer to reach a target thickness. Depositing the plurality of composite layers comprises dispensing one or more droplets of a curable resin precursor composition onto a support. Depositing the plurality of composite layers further comprises dispensing one or more droplets of a porosity-forming composition onto the support, wherein at least one component of the porosity-forming composition is removable to form the pores in the porous polishing pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Boyi Fu, Ashwin Chockalingam, Ankit Vora, Daniel Redfield, Rajeev Bajaj, Nag B. Patibandla, Hou T. Ng, Sudhakar Madhusoodhanan
  • Publication number: 20230364735
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure include a polishing pad for planarizing a surface of a substrate during a polishing process. The polishing pad includes a base layer, comprising a first material composition, and a polishing layer disposed over the base layer. The polishing layer includes a second material composition that is exposed at a polishing surface of the polishing pad, wherein the polishing surface is configured to contact the surface of the substrate during the polishing process. The second material composition includes a polishing layer material having a hardness that is greater than 50 on a Shore D scale, a yield point strength, a yield point strength strain, a break point strength, and an elongation at break point strain, wherein a magnitude of a difference between the elongation at break point strain and the yield point strength strain is greater than the magnitude of yield point strength strain when measured at room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Shiyan Akalanka Jayanath WEWALA GONNAGAHADENIYAGE, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM
  • Publication number: 20230330805
    Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein generally relate to polishing articles and methods for manufacturing polishing articles used in polishing processes. More specifically, implementations disclosed herein relate to porous polishing pads produced by processes that yield improved polishing pad properties and performance, including tunable performance. Additive manufacturing processes, such as three-dimensional printing processes provides the ability to make porous polishing pads with unique properties and attributes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivapackia GANAPATHIAPPAN, Nag B. PATIBANDLA, Rajeev BAJAJ, Daniel REDFIELD, Fred C. REDEKER, Mahendra C. ORILALL, Boyi FU, Mayu YAMAMURA, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM
  • Patent number: 11772229
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to advanced polishing pads with tunable chemical, material and structural properties, and new methods of manufacturing the same. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, it has been discovered that a polishing pad with improved properties may be produced by an additive manufacturing process, such as a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. Embodiments of the present disclosure thus may provide an advanced polishing pad that has discrete features and geometries, formed from at least two different materials that include functional polymers, functional oligomers, reactive diluents, addition polymer precursor compounds, catalysts, and curing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Boyi Fu, Ashwin Chockalingam, Daniel Redfield, Rajeev Bajaj, Mahendra C. Orilall, Hou T. Ng, Jason G. Fung, Mayu Yamamura
  • Patent number: 11745302
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to advanced polishing pads with tunable chemical, material and structural properties, and new methods of manufacturing the same. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, it has been discovered that a polishing pad with improved properties may be produced by an additive manufacturing process, such as a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. Embodiments of the present disclosure thus may provide an advanced polishing pad that has discrete features and geometries, formed from at least two different materials that include functional polymers, functional oligomers, reactive diluents, addition polymer precursor compounds, catalysts, and curing agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Boyi Fu, Ashwin Chockalingam, Daniel Redfield, Rajeev Bajaj, Mahendra C. Orilall, Hou T. Ng, Jason G. Fung, Mayu Yamamura
  • Patent number: 11724362
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to advanced polishing pads with tunable chemical, material and structural properties, and new methods of manufacturing the same. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, it has been discovered that a polishing pad with improved properties may be produced by an additive manufacturing process, such as a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. Embodiments of the present disclosure thus may provide an advanced polishing pad that has discrete features and geometries, formed from at least two different materials that include functional polymers, functional oligomers, reactive diluents, and curing agents. For example, the advanced polishing pad may be formed from a plurality of polymeric layers, by the automated sequential deposition of at least one resin precursor composition followed by at least one curing step, wherein each layer may represent at least one polymer composition, and/or regions of different compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Rajeev Bajaj, Daniel Redfield, Mahendra C. Orilall, Boyi Fu, Aniruddh Jagdish Khanna, Jason G. Fung, Ashwin Chockalingam, Mayu Yamamura, Veera Raghava Reddy Kakireddy, Gregory E. Menk, Nag B. Patibandla
  • Publication number: 20230219189
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for correcting asymmetry in a thickness profile by use of a Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP) process. In one embodiment, a CMP system includes a polishing pad, an adhesion layer, and a platen. The polishing pad includes has a polishing surface, a second surface that is positioned opposite to the polishing surface in a first direction, and a plurality of cavities formed in the second surface. The platen includes a body that comprises a pad supporting surface and one or more ports formed in the body, configured to receive a positive or negative pressure that is generated from a fluid control device. Each of the plurality of cavities is in fluid communication with at least one of the one or more ports and the adhesion layer is disposed between the pad supporting surface of the platen and a portion of the second surface of the polishing pad.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM, Joshua CHEN, Shiyan Akalanka Jayanath WEWALA GONNAGAHADENIYAGE, Daniel REDFIELD
  • Publication number: 20230125502
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a surface topology measurement device that enables mapping a surface profile of a polishing pad. Embodiments of the disclosure may include a method of measuring and/or adjusting a property of a polishing surface of a polishing pad disposed in a substrate processing system during processing or after one or more processes have been performed. The method can include positioning a surface topology measurement device such that the surface topology measurement device contacts the polishing surface of the polishing pad, generating a three-dimensional surface map of the polishing surface of the polishing pad, comparing the three-dimensional surface map of the polishing surface of the polishing pad to a predetermined threshold, and adjusting one or more properties of the substrate processing system based on the comparison of the three-dimensional surface map to the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Shiyan JAYANATH, Daniel REDFIELD, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM
  • Publication number: 20230052048
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to integrated abrasive (IA) polishing pads, and methods of manufacturing IA polishing pads using, at least in part, surface functionalized abrasive particles in an additive manufacturing process, such as a 3D inkjet printing process. In one embodiment, a method of forming a polishing article includes dispensing a first plurality of droplets of a first precursor, curing the first plurality of droplets to form a first layer comprising a portion of a sub-polishing element, dispensing a second plurality of droplets of the first precursor and a second precursor onto the first layer, and curing the second plurality of droplets to form a second layer comprising portions of the sub-polishing element and portions of a plurality of polishing elements. Here, the second precursor includes functionalized abrasive particles having a polymerizable group chemically bonded to surfaces thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Ashavani KUMAR, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM, Sivapackia GANAPATHIAPPAN, Rajeev BAJAJ, Boyi FU, Daniel REDFIELD, Nag B. PATIBANDLA, Mario Dagio CORNEJO, Amritanshu SINHA, Yan ZHAO, Ranga Rao ARNEPALLI, Fred C. REDEKER
  • Publication number: 20220402091
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to advanced polishing pads with tunable chemical, material, and structural properties, and new methods of manufacturing the same. In one or more embodiments, polishing pads with improved properties may be produced by an additive manufacturing process, such as a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. Some embodiments may provide an advanced polishing pad that has discrete features and geometries, formed from at least two different materials that include functional polymers, functional oligomers, reactive diluents, addition polymer precursor compounds, catalysts, and curing agents. For example, advanced polishing pads may be formed from a plurality of polymeric layers, by the automated sequential deposition of at least one polymer precursor composition followed by at least one curing step, where each layer may represent at least one polymer composition, and/or regions of different compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Sivapackia GANAPATHIAPPAN, Boyi FU, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM, Daniel REDFIELD, Rajeev BAJAJ, Mahendra C. ORILALL, Hou T. NG, Jason G. FUNG, Mayu YAMAMURA
  • Publication number: 20220395958
    Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to polishing pads and methods of forming polishing pads. A polishing pad includes a plurality of polishing elements and a plurality of grooves disposed between the polishing elements. Each polishing element includes a plurality of individual posts. Each post includes an individual surface that forms a portion of a polishing surface of the polishing pad and one or more sidewalls extending downwardly from the individual surface. The sidewalls of the plurality of individual posts define a plurality of pores disposed between the posts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Inventors: Shiyan Akalanka Jayanath WEWALA GONNAGAHADENIYAGE, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM, Jason Garcheung FUNG, Veera Raghava Reddy KAKIREDDY, Nandan BARADANAHALLI KENCHAPPA, Puneet Narendra JAWALI, Rajeev BAJAJ
  • Patent number: 11524384
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for abrasive delivery (AD) polishing pads and manufacturing methods thereof. In one embodiment, a method of forming a polishing article includes forming a sub-polishing element from a first curable resin precursor composition and forming a plurality of polishing elements extending from the sub-polishing element. Forming the plurality of polishing elements includes forming a continuous polymer phase from a second curable resin precursor composition and forming a plurality of discontinuous abrasive delivery features disposed within the continuous polymer phase. The sub-polishing element is formed by dispensing a first plurality of droplets of the first curable resin precursor composition. The plurality polishing elements are formed by dispensing a second plurality of droplets of the second curable resin precursor composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashwin Chockalingam, Rajeev Bajaj, Ashavani Kumar, Daniel Redfield
  • Publication number: 20220362904
    Abstract: Embodiments herein generally relate to polishing pads and methods of forming polishing pads. A method of forming a polishing pad includes (a) dispensing droplets of a pre-polymer composition and droplets of a sacrificial material composition onto a surface of a previously formed print layer according to a predetermined droplet dispense pattern. The method includes (b) at least partially curing the dispensed droplets of the pre-polymer composition to form a print layer. The method includes (c) sequentially repeating (a) and (b) to form a polishing layer having a plurality of pore-features formed therein. The pre-polymer composition includes a multifunctional acrylate component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Sivapackia GANAPATHIAPPAN, Uma SRIDHAR, Yingdong LUO, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM, Mayu YAMAMURA, Sebastian David ROZO, Daniel REDFIELD, Rajeev BAJAJ, Nag B. PATIBANDLA, Hou T. NG, Sudhakar MADHUSOODHANAN
  • Patent number: 11471999
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to integrated abrasive (IA) polishing pads, and methods of manufacturing IA polishing pads using, at least in part, surface functionalized abrasive particles in an additive manufacturing process, such as a 3D inkjet printing process. In one embodiment, a method of forming a polishing article includes dispensing a first plurality of droplets of a first precursor, curing the first plurality of droplets to form a first layer comprising a portion of a sub-polishing element, dispensing a second plurality of droplets of the first precursor and a second precursor onto the first layer, and curing the second plurality of droplets to form a second layer comprising portions of the sub-polishing element and portions of a plurality of polishing elements. Here, the second precursor includes functionalized abrasive particles having a polymerizable group chemically bonded to surfaces thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ashavani Kumar, Ashwin Chockalingam, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan, Rajeev Bajaj, Boyi Fu, Daniel Redfield, Nag B. Patibandla, Mario Dagio Cornejo, Amritanshu Sinha, Yan Zhao, Ranga Rao Arnepalli, Fred C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 11446788
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to advanced polishing pads with tunable chemical, material and structural properties, and new methods of manufacturing the same. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, it has been discovered that a polishing pad with improved properties may be produced by an additive manufacturing process, such as a three-dimensional (3D) printing process. Embodiments of the present disclosure thus may provide an advanced polishing pad that has discrete features and geometries, formed from at least two different materials that include functional polymers, functional oligomers, reactive diluents, and curing agents. For example, the advanced polishing pad may be formed from a plurality of polymeric layers, by the automated sequential deposition of at least one resin precursor composition followed by at least one curing step, wherein each layer may represent at least one polymer composition, and/or regions of different compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Rajeev Bajaj, Daniel Redfield, Mahendra C. Orilall, Boyi Fu, Ashwin Chockalingam, Ashavani Kumar, Fred C. Redeker, Nag B. Patibandla
  • Publication number: 20210347005
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for polishing pads that include at least one endpoint detection (EPD) window disposed through the polishing pad material and methods of forming thereof. In one embodiment, a method of forming a polishing pad includes forming a first layer of the polishing pad by dispensing a first precursor composition and a window precursor composition, the first layer comprising at least portions of each of a first polishing pad element and a window feature, and partially curing the dispensed first precursor composition, and the dispensed window precursor composition disposed within the first layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Boyi FU, Sivapackia GANAPATHIAPPAN, Daniel REDFIELD, Rajeev BAJAJ, Ashwin CHOCKALINGAM, Dominic J. BENVEGNU, Mario Dagio CORNEJO, Mayu YAMAMURA, Nag B. PATIBANDLA, Ankit VORA