Patents by Inventor Michael S. Cox

Michael S. Cox 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: 10187966
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a plasma source, an abatement system and a vacuum processing system for abating compounds produced in semiconductor processes. In one embodiment, a plasma source includes a dielectric tube and a coil antenna surrounding the tube. The coil antenna includes a plurality of turns, and at least one turn is shorted. Selectively shorting one or more turns of the coil antenna helps reduce the inductance of the coil antenna, allowing higher power to be supplied to the coil antenna that covers more processing volume. Higher power supplied to the coil antenna and larger processing volume lead to an improved DRE.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Rongping Wang, Jibing Zeng, David Muquing Hou, Michael S. Cox, Zheng Yuan, James L'Heureux
  • Patent number: 10176973
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a method for abating compounds produced in semiconductor processes. The method includes energizing an abating agent, forming a composition by reacting the energized abating agent with gases exiting a vacuum processing chamber, and flowing the composition through a plurality of holes formed in a cooling plate. By cooling the composition with the cooling plate, damages on the downstream pump are avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Cox, Rongping Wang, Brian T. West, Roger M. Johnson, Colin John Dickinson
  • Patent number: 10153143
    Abstract: A process chamber includes a chamber body having a chamber lid assembly disposed thereon, one or more monitoring devices coupled to the chamber lid assembly, and one or more antennas disposed adjacent to the chamber lid assembly that are in communication with the one or more monitoring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Nicholas Binns, Brian T. West, Ronald Vern Schauer, Roger M. Johnson, Michael S. Cox
  • Publication number: 20180342378
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber used to process a substrate. In one implementation, a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber is provided. The sputtering target comprises a sputtering plate with a backside surface having radially inner, middle and outer regions and an annular-shaped backing plate mounted to the sputtering plate. The backside surface has a plurality of circular grooves which are spaced apart from one another and at least one arcuate channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of sputtering plate. The annular-shaped backing plate defines an open annulus exposing the backside surface of the sputtering plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Brian T. WEST, Michael S. COX, Jeonghoon OH
  • Publication number: 20180318758
    Abstract: A plasma abatement process for abating effluent containing compounds from a processing chamber is described. A plasma abatement process takes gaseous foreline effluent from a processing chamber, such as a deposition chamber, and reacts the effluent within a plasma chamber placed in the foreline path. The plasma dissociates the compounds within the effluent, converting the effluent into more benign compounds. Abating reagents may assist in the abating of the compounds. The abatement process may be a volatizing or a condensing abatement process. Representative volatilizing abating reagents include, for example, CH4, H2O, H2, NF3, SF6, F2, HCl, HF, Cl2, and HBr. Representative condensing abating reagents include, for example, H2, H2O, O2, N2, O3, CO, CO2, NH3, N2O, CH4, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Michael S. COX, Monique MCINTOSH, Colin John DICKINSON, Paul E. FISHER, Yutaka TANAKA, Zheng YUAN
  • Patent number: 10049863
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber used to process a substrate. In one implementation, a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber is provided. The sputtering target comprises a sputtering plate with a backside surface having radially inner, middle and outer regions and an annular-shaped backing plate mounted to the sputtering plate. The backside surface has a plurality of circular grooves which are spaced apart from one another and at least one arcuate channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of sputtering plate. The annular-shaped backing plate defines an open annulus exposing the backside surface of the sputtering plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. West, Michael S. Cox, Jeonghoon Oh
  • Patent number: 9984912
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrostatic chuck (ESC) having azimuthal temperature control. In one embodiment, the electrostatic chuck includes an insulating base, an encapsulating member disposed on the insulating base, a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes disposed at a first elevation in the encapsulating member, the first plurality of electrodes intervening with the second plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of heating elements disposed at a second elevation in the encapsulating member, the heating elements being arranged in the form of discrete sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Cox
  • Publication number: 20180037987
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides apparatus and method for stabilizing substrate temperature by flowing a flow of cooling gas to an inlet of cooling channels in a substrate support, receiving the flow of cooling gas from an outlet of the cooling channel using a heat exchanger, and releasing the cooling gas to an immediate environment, such as a cleanroom or a minienvironment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Brian WEST, Michael S. COX, Jeonghoon OH
  • Publication number: 20180019148
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrostatic chuck (ESC) having azimuthal temperature control. In one embodiment, the electrostatic chuck includes an insulating base, an encapsulating member disposed on the insulating base, a first plurality of electrodes and a second plurality of electrodes disposed at a first elevation in the encapsulating member, the first plurality of electrodes intervening with the second plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of heating elements disposed at a second elevation in the encapsulating member, the heating elements being arranged in the form of discrete sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Michael S. COX
  • Publication number: 20180019108
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber used to process a substrate. In one implementation, a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber is provided. The sputtering target comprises a sputtering plate with a backside surface having radially inner, middle and outer regions and an annular-shaped backing plate mounted to the sputtering plate. The backside surface has a plurality of circular grooves which are spaced apart from one another and at least one arcuate channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of sputtering plate. The annular-shaped backing plate defines an open annulus exposing the backside surface of the sputtering plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventors: Brian T. WEST, Michael S. COX, Jeonghoon OH
  • Patent number: 9867238
    Abstract: In some embodiments an apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system may include a dielectric tube configured to be coupled to the foreline of the substrate processing system to allow a flow of exhaust gases from the foreline through the dielectric tube; an RF coil wound about an outer surface of the dielectric tube, the RF coil having a first end to provide an RF input to the RF coil, the first end of the RF coil disposed proximate a first end of the dielectric tube and a second end disposed proximate a second end of the dielectric tube; a tap coupled to the RF coil to provide an RF return path, the tap disposed between the first end of the dielectric tube and a central portion of the dielectric tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Cox, Colin John Dickinson
  • Publication number: 20170316924
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an anode for a semiconductor processing chamber. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a process kit including a shield serving as an anode in a physical deposition chamber. The shield has a cylindrical band, the cylindrical band having a top and a bottom, the cylindrical band sized to encircle a sputtering surface of a sputtering target disposed adjacent the top and a substrate support disposed at the bottom, the cylindrical band having an interior surface. A texture is disposed on the interior surface. The texture has a plurality of features. A shaded area is disposed in the feature wherein the shaded area is not visible to the sputtering target. A small anode surface is disposed in the shaded area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Michael S. COX, Lara HAWRYLCHAK, Brian T. WEST
  • Publication number: 20170301524
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include an abatement system for abating compounds produced in semiconductor processes. The abatement system includes an exhaust cooling apparatus located downstream of a plasma source. The exhaust cooling apparatus includes at least one cooling plate a device for introducing turbulence to the exhaust flowing within the exhaust cooling apparatus. The device may be a plurality of fins, a cylinder with a curved top portion, or a diffuser with angled blades. The turbulent flow of the exhaust within the exhaust cooling apparatus causes particles to drop out of the exhaust, minimizing particles forming in equipment downstream of the exhaust cooling apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Michael S. COX, Brian T. WEST, Roger M. JOHNSON, Yan ROZENZON, Dinkesh SOMANNA, Dustin W. HO
  • Patent number: 9790589
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides apparatus and method for stabilizing substrate temperature by flowing a flow of cooling gas to an inlet of cooling channels in a substrate support, receiving the flow of cooling gas from an outlet of the cooling channel using a heat exchanger, and releasing the cooling gas to an immediate environment, such as a cleanroom or a minienvironment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian West, Michael S. Cox, Jeonghoon Oh
  • Patent number: 9779975
    Abstract: Embodiments provided herein generally relate to an electrostatic chuck (ESC). The ESC may comprise a reduced number of stress initiation points, such as holes through the ESC, which may improve the mechanical integrity of the ESC. Electrodes disposed within the ESC may be connected to electrical contacts and a power source via conductive leads, which may be coupled or formed along a peripheral edge of the ESC. Thus, the need for holes formed in the ESC may be reduced or eliminated. In addition, gas channels may be formed on a top surface, a bottom surface, or both. The gas channels may reduce or eliminate the need for a gas channel formed through the ESC and may facilitate heat transfer between a substrate support, the ESC, and a substrate coupled to the ESC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael S. Cox
  • Patent number: 9779920
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber used to process a substrate. In one implementation, a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber is provided. The sputtering target comprises a sputtering plate with a backside surface having radially inner, middle and outer regions and an annular-shaped backing plate mounted to the sputtering plate. The backside surface has a plurality of circular grooves which are spaced apart from one another and at least one arcuate channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of sputtering plate. The annular-shaped backing plate defines an open annulus exposing the backside surface of the sputtering plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian T. West, Michael S. Cox, Jeonghoon Oh
  • Patent number: 9773692
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to an electrostatic chuck (ESC). The ESC may contain a first plurality of electrodes adapted to electrostatically couple a substrate to the ESC and a second plurality of electrodes adapted to electrostatically couple the ESC to a substrate support. Instead of being integrally disposed within the substrate support, the ESC may be easily removed from the substrate support and removed from a chamber for maintenance or replacement purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Cox, Lara Hawrylchak, Steven V. Sansoni
  • Patent number: 9754771
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a magnetron that is encapsulated by a material that is tolerant of heat and water. In one embodiment, the entire magnetron is encapsulated. In another embodiment, the magnetron includes magnetic pole pieces, and the magnetic pole pieces are not covered by the encapsulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Brian T. West, Roger M. Johnson, Michael S. Cox
  • Patent number: 9735037
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrostatic chuck (ESC) having azimuthal temperature control. In one embodiment, the electrostatic chuck includes an insulating base, a dielectric layer disposed on the insulating base, the dielectric layer having a substrate supporting surface, a plurality of heating elements coupled to the insulating base, and a first set of electrodes and a second set of electrodes, wherein the plurality of heating elements are surrounded by the first set of electrodes and the second set of electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Michael S. Cox
  • Publication number: 20170216767
    Abstract: A plasma abatement process for abating effluent containing compounds from a processing chamber is described. A plasma abatement process takes gaseous foreline effluent from a processing chamber, such as a deposition chamber, and reacts the effluent within a plasma chamber placed in the foreline path. The plasma dissociates the compounds within the effluent, converting the effluent into more benign compounds. Abating reagents may assist in the abating of the compounds. The abatement process may be a volatizing or a condensing abatement process. Representative volatilizing abating reagents include, for example, CH4, H2O, H2, NF3, SF6, F2, HCl, HF, Cl2, and HBr. Representative condensing abating reagents include, for example, H2, H2O, O2, N2, O3, CO, CO2, NH3, N2O, CH4, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Michael S. COX, Monique MCINTOSH, Colin John DICKINSON, Paul E. FISHER, Yutaka TANAKA, Zheng YUAN