Patents by Inventor Nell Benjamin

Nell Benjamin 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: 9324589
    Abstract: A heating plate for a substrate support assembly in a semiconductor plasma processing apparatus, comprises multiple independently controllable planar heater zones arranged in a scalable multiplexing layout, and electronics to independently control and power the planar heater zones. A substrate support assembly in which the heating plate is incorporated includes an electrostatic clamping electrode and a temperature controlled base plate. Methods for manufacturing the heating plate include bonding together ceramic or polymer sheets having planar heater zones, branch transmission lines, common transmission lines and vias. The heating plate is capable of being driven by AC current or direct current phase alternating power, which has an advantage of minimizing DC magnetic field effects above the substrate support assembly and reduce plasma non-uniformity caused by DC magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Pease, Nell Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20130220989
    Abstract: A heating plate for a substrate support assembly in a semiconductor plasma processing apparatus, comprises multiple independently controllable planar heater zones arranged in a scalable multiplexing layout, and electronics to independently control and power the planar heater zones. A substrate support assembly in which the heating plate is incorporated includes an electrostatic clamping electrode and a temperature controlled base plate. Methods for manufacturing the heating plate include bonding together ceramic or polymer sheets having planar heater zones, branch transmission lines, common transmission lines and vias. The heating plate is capable of being driven by AC current or direct current phase alternating power, which has an advantage of minimizing DC magnetic field effects above the substrate support assembly and reduce plasma non-uniformity caused by DC magnetic fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: John Pease, Nell Benjamin