Patents by Inventor Christopher A. Rowland

Christopher A. Rowland 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: 20240096602
    Abstract: A system having an auxiliary plasma source, disposed proximate the workpiece, for use with an ion beam is disclosed. The auxiliary plasma source is used to create ions and radicals which drift toward the workpiece and may form a film. The ion beam is then used to provide energy so that the ions and radicals can process the workpiece. Further, various applications of the system are also disclosed. For example, the system can be used for various processes including deposition, implantation, etching, pre-treatment and post-treatment. By locating an auxiliary plasma source close to the workpiece, processes that were previously not possible may be performed. Further, two dissimilar processes, such as cleaning and implanting or implanting and passivating can be performed without removing the workpiece from the end station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Hatem, Peter F. Kurunczi, Christopher A. Rowland, Joseph C. Olson, Anthony Renau
  • Patent number: 11862433
    Abstract: A system having an auxiliary plasma source, disposed proximate the workpiece, for use with an ion beam is disclosed. The auxiliary plasma source is used to create ions and radicals which drift toward the workpiece and may form a film. The ion beam is then used to provide energy so that the ions and radicals can process the workpiece. Further, various applications of the system are also disclosed. For example, the system can be used for various processes including deposition, implantation, etching, pre-treatment and post-treatment. By locating an auxiliary plasma source close to the workpiece, processes that were previously not possible may be performed. Further, two dissimilar processes, such as cleaning and implanting or implanting and passivating can be performed without removing the workpiece from the end station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Varlan Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hatem, Peter F. Kurunczi, Christopher A. Rowland, Joseph C. Olson, Anthony Renau
  • Publication number: 20230335375
    Abstract: A system may include a substrate stage, configured to support a substrate, where a main surface of the substrate defines a substrate plane. The system may include an ion source, including an extraction assembly that is oriented to direct an ion beam to the substrate along a trajectory defining a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane. The system may include a radical source oriented to direct a radical beam to the substrate along a trajectory defining the non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane. The substrate stage may be further configured to scan the substrate along a first direction, lying with the substrate plane, while the main surface of the substrate is oriented within the substrate plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Kurunczi, Morgan Evans, Joseph C. Olson, Christopher A. Rowland, James Buonodono
  • Patent number: 11715621
    Abstract: A system may include a substrate stage, configured to support a substrate, where a main surface of the substrate defines a substrate plane. The system may include an ion source, including an extraction assembly that is oriented to direct an ion beam to the substrate along a trajectory defining a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane. The system may include a radical source oriented to direct a radical beam to the substrate along a trajectory defining the non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane. The substrate stage may be further configured to scan the substrate along a first direction, lying with the substrate plane, while the main surface of the substrate is oriented within the substrate plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Kurunczi, Morgan Evans, Joseph C. Olson, Christopher A. Rowland, James Buonodono
  • Patent number: 11574800
    Abstract: A workpiece processing apparatus allowing independent control of the voltage applied to the shield ring and the workpiece is disclosed. The workpiece processing apparatus includes a platen. The platen includes a dielectric material on which a workpiece is disposed. A bias electrode is disposed beneath the dielectric material. A shield ring, which is constructed from a metal, ceramic, semiconductor or dielectric material, is arranged around the perimeter of the workpiece. A ring electrode is disposed beneath the shield ring. The ring electrode and the bias electrode may be separately powered. This allows the surface voltage of the shield ring to match that of the workpiece, which causes the plasma sheath to be flat. Additionally, the voltage applied to the shield ring may be made different from that of the workpiece to compensate for mismatches in geometries. This improves uniformity of incident angles along the outer edge of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Maureen Petterson, John Hautala, Anthony Renau, Christopher A. Rowland, Costel Biloiu
  • Patent number: 11562584
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide improved, high-throughput multiphoton imaging of thick samples with reduced emission scattering. The systems and methods use structured illumination to modify the excitation light. A reconstruction process can be applied to the resulting images to recover image information free of scattering. The disclosed systems and methods provide high throughput, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high resolution images that are depth selective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jong Kang Park, Dushan Wadduwage, Yi Xue, Elly Nedivi, Peter T. C. So, Christopher Rowlands, Kalen Berry
  • Patent number: 11446740
    Abstract: An additive manufacturing system includes a platen to support an object to be fabricated, a dispenser assembly positioned above the platen, and an energy source configured to selectively fuse a layer of powder. The dispenser assembly includes a first dispenser, a second dispenser, and a drive system. The first dispenser delivers a first powder in a first linear region that extends along a first axis, and the second dispenser delivers a second powder in a second linear region that extends parallel to the first linear region and is offset from the first linear region along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The drive system a drive system moves the support with the first dispenser and second dispenser together along the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher A. Rowland, Anantha K. Subramani, Kasiraman Krishnan, Kartik Ramaswamy, Thomas B. Brezoczky, Swaminathan Srinivasan, Jennifer Y. Sun, Simon Yavelberg, Srinivas D. Nemani, Nag B. Patibandla, Hou T. Ng
  • Patent number: 11424097
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for increasing efficiency of ion sources. In some embodiments, an apparatus, such as an ion source, may include a chamber housing having a first end wall and a second end wall, and an extraction plate coupled to at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall. The extraction plate may include an extraction aperture. The apparatus may further include a tubular cathode extending between the first end wall and the second end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Svetlana Radovanov, Frank Sinclair, You Chia Li, Peter Ewing, Ajdin Sarajlic, Christopher A. Rowland, Nunzio Carbone
  • Publication number: 20210313154
    Abstract: A system having an auxiliary plasma source, disposed proximate the workpiece, for use with an ion beam is disclosed. The auxiliary plasma source is used to create ions and radicals which drift toward the workpiece and may form a film. The ion beam is then used to provide energy so that the ions and radicals can process the workpiece. Further, various applications of the system are also disclosed. For example, the system can be used for various processes including deposition, implantation, etching, pre-treatment and post-treatment. By locating an auxiliary plasma source close to the workpiece, processes that were previously not possible may be performed. Further, two dissimilar processes, such as cleaning and implanting or implanting and passivating can be performed without removing the workpiece from the end station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Hatem, Peter F. Kurunczi, Christopher A. Rowland, Joseph C. Olson, Anthony Renau
  • Patent number: 11069511
    Abstract: A system having an auxiliary plasma source, disposed proximate the workpiece, for use with an ion beam is disclosed. The auxiliary plasma source is used to create ions and radicals which drift toward the workpiece and may form a film. The ion beam is then used to provide energy so that the ions and radicals can process the workpiece. Further, various applications of the system are also disclosed. For example, the system can be used for various processes including deposition, implantation, etching, pre-treatment and post-treatment. By locating an auxiliary plasma source close to the workpiece, processes that were previously not possible may be performed. Further, two dissimilar processes, such as cleaning and implanting or implanting and passivating can be performed without removing the workpiece from the end station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hatem, Peter F. Kurunczi, Christopher A. Rowland, Joseph C. Olson, Anthony Renau
  • Patent number: 10904996
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to plasma assisted or plasma enhanced processing chambers. More specifically, embodiments herein relate to electrostatic chucking (ESC) substrate supports configured to provide pulsed DC voltage, and methods of applying a pulsed DC voltage, to a substrate during plasma assisted or plasma enhanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Travis Lee Koh, Haitao Wang, Philip Allan Kraus, Vijay D. Parkhe, Daniel Distaso, Christopher A. Rowland, Mark Markovsky, Robert Casanova
  • Publication number: 20200411342
    Abstract: A beamline architecture including a wafer handling chamber, a load-lock coupled to the wafer handling chamber for facilitating transfer of workpieces between an atmospheric environment and the wafer handling chamber, a plasma chamber coupled to the wafer handling chamber and containing a plasma source for performing at least one of a plasma pre-clean process, a plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process, a plasma annealing process, a pre-heating process, and an etching process on workpieces, a process chamber coupled to the wafer handling chamber and adapted to perform an ion implantation process on workpieces, and a valve disposed between the wafer handling chamber and the plasma chamber for sealing the plasma chamber from the wafer handling chamber and the process chamber, wherein a pressure within the plasma chamber and a pressure within the process chamber can be varied independently of one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Hatem, Christopher A. Rowland, Joseph C. Olson
  • Publication number: 20200343071
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for increasing efficiency of ion sources. In some embodiments, an apparatus, such as an ion source, may include a chamber housing having a first end wall and a second end wall, and an extraction plate coupled to at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall. The extraction plate may include an extraction aperture. The apparatus may further include a tubular cathode extending between the first end wall and the second end wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Svetlana Radovanov, Frank Sinclair, You Chia Li, Peter Ewing, Ajdin Sarajlic, Christopher A. Rowland, Nunzio Carbone
  • Publication number: 20200342205
    Abstract: Systems and methods herein provide improved, high-throughput multiphoton imaging of thick samples with reduced emission scattering. The systems and methods use structured illumination to modify the excitation light. A reconstruction process can be applied to the resulting images to recover image information free of scattering. The disclosed systems and methods provide high throughput, high signal-to-noise ratio, and high resolution images that are depth selective.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Jong Kang Park, Dushan Wadduwage, Yi Xue, Elly Nedivi, Peter T.C. So, Christopher Rowlands, Kalen Berry
  • Patent number: 10777934
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a housing with a mating face and a wire-receiving face. Terminal-receiving cavities extend from the mating face toward the wire-receiving face. A receiving cavity extends from the wire-receiving face to an end wall provided at an end of the terminal-receiving cavities. The receiving cavity has a first section provided proximate the wire-receiving face and a second section provided proximate the end wall at the end of the terminal-receiving cavities. A transition wall is provided between the first section and the second section. A rear cover member is provided proximate the wire-receiving face. The receiving cavity is configured to receive a gang sealing member in the first section or individual wire sealing members in the second section to form a seal between the housing and the respective gang sealing member or the individual wire sealing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION, TE CONNECTIVITY ITALIA DISTRIBUTION S.r.l.
    Inventors: Chong Hun Yi, Christopher A. Rowland, Fulvio Calvone
  • Patent number: 10748738
    Abstract: Provided herein are approaches for increasing efficiency of ion sources. In some embodiments, an apparatus, such as an ion source, may include a chamber housing having a first end wall and a second end wall, and an extraction plate coupled to at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall. The extraction plate may include an extraction aperture. The apparatus may further include a tubular cathode extending between the first end wall and the second end wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bon-Woong Koo, Svetlana Radovanov, Frank Sinclair, You Chia Li, Peter Ewing, Ajdin Sarajlic, Christopher A. Rowland, Nunzio Carbone
  • Publication number: 20200243308
    Abstract: A workpiece processing apparatus allowing independent control of the voltage applied to the shield ring and the workpiece is disclosed. The workpiece processing apparatus includes a platen. The platen includes a dielectric material on which a workpiece is disposed. A bias electrode is disposed beneath the dielectric material. A shield ring, which is constructed from a metal, ceramic, semiconductor or dielectric material, is arranged around the perimeter of the workpiece. A ring electrode is disposed beneath the shield ring. The ring electrode and the bias electrode may be separately powered. This allows the surface voltage of the shield ring to match that of the workpiece, which causes the plasma sheath to be flat. Additionally, the voltage applied to the shield ring may be made different from that of the workpiece to compensate for mismatches in geometries. This improves uniformity of incident angles along the outer edge of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Maureen Petterson, John Hautala, Anthony Renau, Christopher A. Rowland, Costel Biloiu
  • Publication number: 20200194226
    Abstract: A system may include a substrate stage, configured to support a substrate, where a main surface of the substrate defines a substrate plane. The system may include an ion source, including an extraction assembly that is oriented to direct an ion beam to the substrate along a trajectory defining a non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane. The system may include a radical source oriented to direct a radical beam to the substrate along a trajectory defining the non-zero angle of incidence with respect to a perpendicular to the substrate plane. The substrate stage may be further configured to scan the substrate along a first direction, lying with the substrate plane, while the main surface of the substrate is oriented within the substrate plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    Applicant: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter F. Kurunczi, Morgan Evans, Joseph C. Olson, Christopher A. Rowland, James Buonodono
  • Patent number: 10665433
    Abstract: A workpiece processing apparatus allowing independent control of the voltage applied to the shield ring and the workpiece is disclosed. The workpiece processing apparatus includes a platen. The platen includes a dielectric material on which a workpiece is disposed. A bias electrode is disposed beneath the dielectric material. A shield ring, which is constructed from a metal, ceramic, semiconductor or dielectric material, is arranged around the perimeter of the workpiece. A ring electrode is disposed beneath the shield ring. The ring electrode and the bias electrode may be separately powered. This allows the surface voltage of the shield ring to match that of the workpiece, which causes the plasma sheath to be flat. Additionally, the voltage applied to the shield ring may be made different from that of the workpiece to compensate for mismatches in geometries. This improves uniformity of incident angles along the outer edge of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Likhanskii, Maureen Petterson, John Hautala, Anthony Renau, Christopher A. Rowland, Costel Biloiu
  • Publication number: 20200021057
    Abstract: An electrical connector having a housing with a mating face and a wire-receiving face. Terminal-receiving cavities extend from the mating face toward the wire-receiving face. A receiving cavity extends from the wire-receiving face to an end wall provided at an end of the terminal-receiving cavities. The receiving cavity has a first section provided proximate the wire-receiving face and a second section provided proximate the end wall at the end of the terminal-receiving cavities. A transition wall is provided between the first section and the second section. A rear cover member is provided proximate the wire-receiving face. The receiving cavity is configured to receive a gang sealing member in the first section or individual wire sealing members in the second section to form a seal between the housing and the respective gang sealing member or the individual wire sealing members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 16, 2020
    Inventors: Chong Hun YI, Christopher A. ROWLAND, Fulvio CALVONE