Patents by Inventor Mark H. Wilcoxson

Mark H. Wilcoxson 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: 6744213
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement for generating an electric field inside a process chamber through a window. Generally, the antenna arrangement comprises an outer loop, comprising a first outer loop turn disposed around an antenna axis, an inner loop, comprising a first inner loop turn disposed around the antenna axis, wherein the inner loop is closer to the antenna axis than the outer loop is to the antenna axis in each azimuthal direction, and a radial connector radially electrically connecting the outer loop to the inner loop, wherein the radial connector is placed a large distance from the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Wilcoxson, Andrew D. Bailey, III
  • Publication number: 20040011467
    Abstract: A plasma processing system for processing a substrate, is disclosed. The plasma processing system includes a single chamber, substantially azimuthally symmetric plasma processing chamber within which a plasma is both ignited and sustained for the processing. The plasma processing chamber has no separate plasma generation chamber. The plasma processing chamber has an upper end and a lower end. The plasma processing chamber includes a material that does not substantially react with the reactive gas chemistries that are delivered into the plasma processing chamber. In addition, the reactant gases that are flown into the plasma processing chamber are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: David J. Hemker, Mark H. Wilcoxson, Andrew D. Bailey, Alan M. Schoepp
  • Publication number: 20030189524
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement for generating an electric field inside a process chamber through a window. Generally, the antenna arrangement comprises an outer loop, comprising a first outer loop turn disposed around an antenna axis, an inner loop, comprising a first inner loop turn disposed around the antenna axis, wherein the inner loop is closer to the antenna axis than the outer loop is to the antenna axis in each azimuthal direction, and a radial connector radially electrically connecting the outer loop to the inner loop, wherein the radial connector is placed a large distance from the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Wilcoxson, Andrew D. Bailey
  • Publication number: 20030155079
    Abstract: A plasma processing system that includes a plasma processing chamber that provides enhanced control over an etch process is disclosed. The plasma processing chamber is connected to a gas flow system. The gas flow system can be employed to control the release of gases into different regions within the plasma processing chamber. In addition, the volume of the released gas, e.g., the flow rate of the gas, can be adjusted by a gas flow control mechanism. In this manner, both the position and the amount of the gas that is delivered to the plasma processing chamber can be controlled. The ability to adjust the position and the amount of gas that is released into the plasma processing chamber provides for a better control over the distribution of the neutral components. This in turn enhances control over the etching process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: ANDREW D. BAILEY, ALAN M. SCHOEPP, DAVID J. HEMKER, MARK H. WILCOXSON
  • Publication number: 20030145952
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement for generating an electric field inside a process chamber is provided. Generally, the antenna arrangement comprises a first loop disposed around an antenna axis. The first loop comprises a first turn with a first turn gap; a second turn with a second turn gap, where the second turn is concentric and coplanar with the first turn and spaced apart from the first turn, and where the antenna axis passes through the center of the first turn and second turn; and a first turn-second turn connector electrically connected between a second end of the first turn and a first end of the second turn comprising a spanning section between and coplanar with the first turn and the second turn and which spans the first turn gap and the second turn gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Wilcoxson, Andrew D. Bailey, Andras Kuthi, Michael G.R. Smith, Alan M. Schoepp
  • Patent number: 6518705
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement for generating an electric field inside a process chamber is provided. Generally, the antenna arrangement comprises a first loop disposed around an antenna axis. The first loop comprises a first turn with a first turn gap; a second turn with a second turn gap, where the second turn is concentric and coplanar with the first turn and spaced apart from the first turn, and where the antenna axis passes through the center of the first turn and second turn; and a first turn-second turn connector electrically connected between a second end of the first turn and a first end of the second turn comprising a spanning section between and coplanar with the first turn and the second turn and which spans the first turn gap and the second turn gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Wilcoxson, Andrew D. Bailey, III, Andras Kuthi, Michael G. R. Smith, Alan M. Schoepp
  • Publication number: 20020175869
    Abstract: An antenna arrangement for generating an electric field inside a process chamber is provided. Generally, the antenna arrangement comprises a first loop disposed around an antenna axis. The first loop comprises a first turn with a first turn gap; a second turn with a second turn gap, where the second turn is concentric and coplanar with the first turn and spaced apart from the first turn, and where the antenna axis passes through the center of the first turn and second turn; and a first turn-second turn connector electrically connected between a second end of the first turn and a first end of the second turn comprising a spanning section between and coplanar with the first turn and the second turn and which spans the first turn gap and the second turn gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Mark H. Wilcoxson, Andrew D. Bailey, Andras Kuthi, Michael G.R. Smith, Alan M. Schoepp
  • Patent number: 6341574
    Abstract: A plasma processing system for processing a substrate which includes a single chamber, substantially azimuthally symmetric plasma processing chamber within which a plasma is both ignited and sustained for the processing. The plasma processing chamber has no separate plasma generation chamber. The plasma processing chamber has an upper end and a lower end. The plasma processing system includes a coupling window disposed at an upper end of the plasma processing chamber and an RF antenna arrangement disposed above a plane defined by the substrate when the substrate is disposed within the plasma processing chamber for the processing. The plasma processing system also includes an electromagnet arrangement disposed above the plane defined by the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2002
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew D. Bailey, III, Alan M. Schoepp, David J. Hemker, Mark H. Wilcoxson, Andras Kuthi