Patents by Inventor Charles H. Winter

Charles H. Winter 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).

  • Publication number: 20230235451
    Abstract: Molybdenum-DAD precursors are described. Methods for depositing molybdenum-containing films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a molybdenum-DAD precursor and a reactant to form the molybdenum-containing film (e.g., elemental molybdenum, molybdenum oxide, molybdenum carbide, molybdenum silicide, molybdenum nitride). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc., Wayne State University
    Inventors: Thomas Joseph Knisley, Martha Serna Villacis, Mark Saly, Lakmal C. Kalutarage, Charles H. Winter, Matthew Bertram Edward Griffiths, Shalini Tripathi
  • Patent number: 11532474
    Abstract: Methods for depositing rhenium-containing thin films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a rhenium precursor and a reducing agent to form the rhenium-containing film (e.g., metallic rhenium, rhenium nitride, rhenium oxide, rhenium carbide). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous. The rhenium-precursors are substantially free of halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Knisley, Keenan N. Woods, Mark Saly, Charles H. Winter, Stefan Cwik
  • Publication number: 20220298635
    Abstract: A method for depositing a metal-containing layer includes a deposition cycle having a step of contacting a surface of a substrate with a vapor of a metal-containing compound for a first predetermined pulse time to form a modified surface. The metal-containing compound is described by formula 1.2: M(x)LmGn ??(1.1), wherein: M is a metal; M(x) is a metal in an oxidation state x that disproportionates at a temperature above 30° C.; x is the oxidation state: L is an anionic ligand; G is a neutral ligand; m is an integer (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) such that m is chosen to maintain charge neutrality of the compound having formula 1; and n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6. The modified surface is contacted with a vapor of a first co-reactant (e.g., an activating compound) to form a metal-containing layer on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Inventors: Charles H. WINTER, Anuththara Chalani Upeksha ABESINGHE ARACHCHIGE, Nyi Myat Khine LINN
  • Patent number: 11408068
    Abstract: Methods for depositing tellurium-containing films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a tellurium precursor and a reactant to form the tellurium-containing film (e.g., elemental tellurium, tellurium oxide, tellurium carbide, tellurium silicide, germanium telluride, antimony telluride, germanium antimony telluride). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Knisley, Keenan N. Woods, Mark Saly, Charles H. Winter, Apoorva Upadhyay
  • Publication number: 20220077104
    Abstract: Methods of bonding and structures with such bonding are disclosed. One such method includes providing a first substrate with a first electrical contact; providing a second substrate with a second electrical contact above the first electrical contact, wherein an upper surface of the first electrical contact is spaced apart from a lower surface of the second electrical contact by a gap; and depositing a layer of selective metal on the lower surface of the second electrical contact and on the upper surface of the first electrical contact by a thermal Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) process until the gap is filled to create a bond between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Mike Breeden, Victor Wang, Andrew Kummel, Ming-Jui Li, Muhannad Bakir, Jonathan Hollin, Nyi Myat Khine Linn, Charles H. Winter
  • Publication number: 20220025514
    Abstract: A method for depositing a metal layer includes a step of contacting a surface of an electrically conductive substrate with a vapor of a metal-containing compound for a first predetermined pulse time to form a modified surface on the electrically conductive substrate. The metal-containing compound is a metal diketonate or a structurally similar compound. The modified surface is contacted with a vapor of a reducing agent that is a hydrazine or a hydrazine derivative for a second predetermined pulse time to form a metal-containing film on the surface of the electrically conductive substrate. Characteristically, the metal-containing film includes the metal atom in a zero oxidation state in an amount greater than 80 mole percent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Charles H. WINTER, Jonathan HOLLIN, Nyi Myat Khine LINN
  • Publication number: 20210262084
    Abstract: Methods for depositing tellurium-containing films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a tellurium precursor and a reactant to form the tellurium-containing film (e.g., elemental tellurium, tellurium oxide, tellurium carbide, tellurium silicide, germanium telluride, antimony telluride, germanium antimony telluride). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc., Wayne State University
    Inventors: Thomas Knisley, Keenan N. Woods, Mark Saly, Charles H. Winter, Apoorva Upadhyay
  • Publication number: 20210155646
    Abstract: Halide ligand free rhenium complexes are described as well as methods for depositing rhenium-containing films. Some embodiments provide a rhenium complex with a general formula of O3ReO-M-R1R2R3, where M is a group IV element, R1 is selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, an aromatic ring, or alkoxy, and R2 and R3 are each independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, an aromatic ring, or alkoxy, or R2 and R3 join together to form a ring structure or an oxo group. Some embodiments provide a rhenium complex with a general formula of Re(NR?)3(NHR?), where R? and R? are independently selected from H, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, or an aromatic ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc., Wayne State University
    Inventors: Thomas Knisley, Keenan N. Woods, Mark Saly, Charles H. Winter, Stefan Cwik
  • Patent number: 11015241
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of reacting a precursor compound with a Lewis base. The precursor compound has a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Charles H. Winter, Marissa Marie Kerrigan
  • Patent number: 10982336
    Abstract: A method for etching a metal surface includes a step of contacting a metal surface with a protic compound for a first time period to produce a first modified surface. The first modified surface is contacted with a protic ligand-forming compound that reacts with the first modified surface to form a volatile metal-containing compound including a metal atom and the protic ligand-forming compound. The volatile metal-containing compound is removed from the vicinity of the metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Charles H. Winter
  • Publication number: 20210050211
    Abstract: Methods for depositing rhenium-containing thin films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a rhenium precursor and a reducing agent to form the rhenium-containing film (e.g., metallic rhenium, rhenium nitride, rhenium oxide, rhenium carbide). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous. The rhenium-precursors are substantially free of halogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc., Wayne State University
    Inventors: Thomas Knisley, Keenan N. Woods, Mark Saly, Charles H. Winter, Stefan Cwik
  • Publication number: 20200362458
    Abstract: Methods for depositing rhenium-containing thin films on a substrate are described. The substrate is exposed to a rhenium precursor and a reducing agent to form the rhenium-containing film (e.g., metallic rhenium, rhenium nitride). The exposures can be sequential or simultaneous.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc., Wayne State University
    Inventors: Thomas Knisley, Keenan N. Woods, Mark Saly, Stefan Cwik, Charles H. Winter
  • Patent number: 10711346
    Abstract: A method for reducing an atom to a reduced oxidation state includes a step of providing a vapor of a first compound having an atom in an oxidized state. A vapor of a reducing agent is provided. The reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of compounds described by formulae I, II, and III: where R1, R2 R3, R4 are each independently H, C1-10 alkyl, C6-14 aryl, or C4-14 heteroaryl. The vapor of the first compound is reacted with the vapor of the reducing agent to form a second compound having the atom in a reduced state relative to the first compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventor: Charles H. Winter
  • Patent number: 10533023
    Abstract: A first compound having an atom in an oxidized state is reacted with a bis(trimethylsilyl) six-membered ring system or related compound to form a second compound having the atom in a reduced state relative to the first compound. The atom in an oxidized state is selected from the group consisting of Groups 2-12 of the Periodic Table, the lanthanides, As, Sb, Bi, Te, Si, Ge, Sn, and Al.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Charles H. Winter, Joseph Peter Klesko
  • Publication number: 20190301010
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of reacting a precursor compound with a Lewis base. The precursor compound has a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Applicant: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Charles H. WINTER, Marissa Marie KERRIGAN
  • Publication number: 20190112716
    Abstract: A method for etching a metal surface includes a step of contacting a metal surface with a protic compound for a first time period to produce a first modified surface. The first modified surface is contacted with a protic ligand-forming compound that reacts with the first modified surface to form a volatile metal-containing compound including a metal atom and the protic ligand-forming compound. The volatile metal-containing compound is removed from the vicinity of the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Charles H. WINTER
  • Publication number: 20180265975
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of contacting a surface with a precursor compound having a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided. The resulting modified surface is then contacted with an activating compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Charles H. WINTER, Thomas J. KNISLEY
  • Publication number: 20180230592
    Abstract: A method for reducing an atom to a reduced oxidation state includes a step of providing a vapor of a first compound having an atom in an oxidized state. A vapor of a reducing agent is provided. The reducing agent is selected from the group consisting of compounds described by formulae I, II, and III: where R1, R2 R3, R4 are each independently H, C1-10 alkyl, C6-14 aryl, or C4-14 heteroaryl. The vapor of the first compound is reacted with the vapor of the reducing agent to form a second compound having the atom in a reduced state relative to the first compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Charles H. WINTER
  • Patent number: 9982344
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of contacting a surface with a precursor compound having a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided. The resulting modified surface is then contacted with an activating compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Charles H. Winter, Thomas J. Knisley
  • Patent number: 9822446
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film on a substrate which includes a step of contacting a surface with a precursor compound having a transition metal and one or more alkyl-1,3-diazabutadiene ligands is provided. The resulting modified surface is then contacted with an activating compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventors: Charles H. Winter, Thomas J. Knisley