Patents by Inventor Dieter Hezler

Dieter Hezler 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: 11955315
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing a workpiece is presented. The processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a plasma chamber separated from the processing chamber disposed on a first side of the processing chamber, and a plasma source configured to generate a plasma in the plasma chamber. One or more radiative heat sources configured to heat the workpiece disposed on a second and opposite side of the first side of the processing chamber. A dielectric window is disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more heat sources. The processing apparatus includes a rotation system configured to rotate the workpiece, the rotation system comprising a magnetic actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignees: Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd., Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dieter Hezler, Keli Huang, Jianmin Ji, Deqiang Zeng, Manuel Sohn
  • Publication number: 20240055242
    Abstract: An apparatus for combining plasma processing and thermal processing of a workpiece is presented. The apparatus includes a processing chamber, a plasma chamber separated from the processing chamber disposed on a first side of the processing chamber, and a plasma source configured to generate a plasma in the plasma chamber. A quartz workpiece support is disposed within the processing chamber, the workpiece support configured to support a workpiece. One or more radiative heat sources configured to heat the workpiece are disposed on a second and opposite side of the first side of the processing chamber. A dielectric window is disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more heat sources. In addition, the apparatus includes a temperature measurement system configured to obtain a temperature measurement indicative of a temperature of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Dixit Desai, Alex Wansidler, Dieter Hezler, Joseph Cibere, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Pete Lembesis, Michael Yang
  • Patent number: 11837447
    Abstract: An apparatus for combining plasma processing and thermal processing of a workpiece is presented. The apparatus includes a processing chamber, a plasma chamber separated from the processing chamber disposed on a first side of the processing chamber, and a plasma source configured to generate a plasma in the plasma chamber. A quartz workpiece support is disposed within the processing chamber, the workpiece support configured to support a workpiece. One or more radiative heat sources configured to heat the workpiece are disposed on a second and opposite side of the first side of the processing chamber. A dielectric window is disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more heat sources. In addition, the apparatus includes a temperature measurement system configured to obtain a temperature measurement indicative of a temperature of the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignees: Beijing E-Town Semiconductor Technology Co., Ltd., Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dixit Desai, Alex Wansidler, Dieter Hezler, Joseph Cibere, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Pete Lembesis, Michael Yang
  • Publication number: 20230352294
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for processing workpieces are provided. An arc lamp can include a tube. The arc lamp can include one or more inlets configured to receive water to be circulated through the arc lamp during operation as a water wall, the water wall configured to cool the arc lamp. The arc lamp can include a plurality of electrodes configured to generate a plasma in a forming gas introduced into the arc lamp via the one or more inlets. The forming gas can be or can include a mixture of a hydrogen gas and an inert gas, the hydrogen gas in the mixture having a concentration less than 4% by volume. The hydrogen gas can be introduced into the arc lamp prior to generating the plasma. The arc lamp may be used for processing workpieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Dave Camm, Joseph Cibere, Dieter Hezler, Shawming Ma, Yun Yang
  • Patent number: 11721539
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for processing workpieces are provided. An arc lamp can include a tube. The arc lamp can include one or more inlets configured to receive water to be circulated through the arc lamp during operation as a water wall, the water wall configured to cool the arc lamp. The arc lamp can include a plurality of electrodes configured to generate a plasma in a forming gas introduced into the arc lamp via the one or more inlets. The forming gas can be or can include a mixture of a hydrogen gas and an inert gas, the hydrogen gas in the mixture having a concentration less than 4% by volume. The hydrogen gas can be introduced into the arc lamp prior to generating the plasma. The arc lamp may be used for processing workpieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: BEIJING E-TOWN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Dave Camm, Joseph Cibere, Dieter Hezler, Shawming Ma, Yun Yang
  • Publication number: 20220205478
    Abstract: A workpiece support for a thermal processing system is provided. The workpiece support includes a rotor configured to support a workpiece. The workpiece support further includes a gas supply. The gas supply can include a plurality of bearing pads. Each of the bearing pads can be positioned closer to a periphery of the rotor than a center of the rotor. Each of the bearing define one or more passages configured to direct gas onto the rotor to control a position of the rotor along a first axis and a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. Furthermore, one or more of the bearing pads define at least one additional passage configured to direct gas onto the rotor to control rotation of the rotor about the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Manuel Sohn, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Dieter Hezler
  • Publication number: 20220195601
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for a thermal treatment of a workpiece is presented. The processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a workpiece support disposed within the processing chamber, a gas delivery system, and radiative heat sources for heating the workpiece. The gas delivery system includes a gas showerhead assembly that is transparent to electromagnetic radiation emitted from the one or more radiative heat sources. The gas showerhead assembly includes one or more gas diffusion mechanisms to distribute gas within the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Yang, Yun Yang, Manuel Sohn, Silke Hamm, Alex Wansidler, DIeter Hezler, Rolf Bremensdorfer
  • Publication number: 20220189747
    Abstract: An apparatus for combining plasma processing and thermal processing of a workpiece is presented. The apparatus includes a processing chamber, a plasma chamber separated from the processing chamber disposed on a first side of the processing chamber, and a plasma source configured to generate a plasma in the plasma chamber. A quartz workpiece support is disposed within the processing chamber, the workpiece support configured to support a workpiece. One or more radiative heat sources configured to heat the workpiece are disposed on a second and opposite side of the first side of the processing chamber. A dielectric window is disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more heat sources. In addition, the apparatus includes a temperature measurement system configured to obtain a temperature measurement indicative of a temperature of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Dixit Desai, Alex Wansidler, Dieter Hezler, Joseph Cibere, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Pete Lembesis, Michael Yang
  • Publication number: 20220187021
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for a thermal treatment of a workpiece is presented. The processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a workpiece support disposed within the processing chamber, a rotation system configured to rotate the workpiece support, a gas delivery system configured to flow one or more process gases into the processing chamber from the a first side of the processing chamber, one or more gas exhaust ports for removing gas from the processing chamber such that a vacuum pressure can be maintained, one or more radiative heating sources disposed on the second side of the processing chamber, one or more dielectric windows disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more radiative heating sources, and a workpiece temperature measurement system configured at a temperature measurement wavelength range to obtain a measurement indicative of a temperature of a back side of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Manuel Sohn, Alex Wansidler, Dieter Hezler, Joseph Cibere, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Martin Zucker, Pete Lembesis, Michael Yang
  • Publication number: 20220189737
    Abstract: A processing apparatus for processing a workpiece is presented. The processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a plasma chamber separated from the processing chamber disposed on a first side of the processing chamber, and a plasma source configured to generate a plasma in the plasma chamber. One or more radiative heat sources configured to heat the workpiece disposed on a second and opposite side of the first side of the processing chamber. A dielectric window is disposed between the workpiece support and the one or more heat sources. The processing apparatus includes a rotation system configured to rotate the workpiece, the rotation system comprising a magnetic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Dieter Hezler, Keli Huang, Jianmin Ji, Deqiang Zeng, Manuel Sohn
  • Publication number: 20220165561
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for processing workpieces are provided. An arc lamp can include a tube. The arc lamp can include one or more inlets configured to receive water to be circulated through the arc lamp during operation as a water wall, the water wall configured to cool the arc lamp. The arc lamp can include a plurality of electrodes configured to generate a plasma in a forming gas introduced into the arc lamp via the one or more inlets. The forming gas can be or can include a mixture of a hydrogen gas and an inert gas, the hydrogen gas in the mixture having a concentration less than 4% by volume. The hydrogen gas can be introduced into the arc lamp prior to generating the plasma. The arc lamp may be used for processing workpieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Dave Camm, Joseph Cibere, Dieter Hezler, Shawming Ma, Yun Yang
  • Publication number: 20220059371
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for processing workpieces are provided. In one example, such a method for performing a spike anneal rapid thermal process may include controlling a heat source to begin heating a workpiece supported on a workpiece support in a processing chamber. The method may further include receiving data indicative of a temperature of the workpiece. Furthermore, the method may include monitoring the temperature of the workpiece relative to a temperature setpoint. Moreover, the method may include controlling the heat source to stop heating the workpiece based at least in part on the workpiece reaching the temperature setpoint. Additionally, the method may include controlling a cooling system to begin flowing a cooling gas at a rate of about 300 slm or greater over the workpiece based at least in part on the workpiece reaching the temperature setpoint to reduce a t50 peak width of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Manuel Sohn, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Silke Hamm, Dieter Hezler
  • Publication number: 20220059363
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for processing workpieces are provided. In one example, such a method for performing a spike anneal rapid thermal process may include controlling a heat source to begin heating a workpiece supported on a workpiece support in a processing chamber. The method may further include receiving data indicative of a temperature of the workpiece. Furthermore, the method may include monitoring the temperature of the workpiece relative to a temperature setpoint. Moreover, the method may include controlling the heat source to stop heating the workpiece based at least in part on the workpiece reaching the temperature setpoint. Additionally, the method may include controlling a cooling system to begin flowing a cooling gas at a rate of about 300 slm or greater over the workpiece based at least in part on the workpiece reaching the temperature setpoint to reduce a t50 peak width of the workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Manuel Sohn, Rolf Bremensdorfer, Dieter Hezler
  • Patent number: 10359334
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a fluid leak associated with fluid cooled components in a millisecond anneal system are provided. In one example implementation, a millisecond anneal system can include a processing chamber having one or more fluid cooled components. The system can include a gas flow system configured to provide for the flow of process gas in the processing chamber. The system can include a vapor sensor configured to measure vapor in process gas flowing through the gas flow system for detecting a fluid leak associated with the one or more fluid cooled components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuel Mueller, Dieter Hezler
  • Publication number: 20170191897
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting a fluid leak associated with fluid cooled components in a millisecond anneal system are provided. In one example implementation, a millisecond anneal system can include a processing chamber having one or more fluid cooled components. The system can include a gas flow system configured to provide for the flow of process gas in the processing chamber. The system can include a vapor sensor configured to measure vapor in process gas flowing through the gas flow system for detecting a fluid leak associated with the one or more fluid cooled components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Manuel Mueller, Dieter Hezler