Patents by Inventor Rainer Obweger

Rainer Obweger 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: 11195730
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber that provides a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber. A heater is positioned relative to the chuck so as to heat a wafer shaped article held on the chuck from one side only and without contacting the wafer shaped article. The heater emits radiation having a maximum intensity in a wavelength range from 390 nm to 550 nm. At least one first liquid dispenser is positioned relative to the chuck so as to dispense a process liquid onto a side of a wafer shaped article that is opposite the side of the wafer-shaped article facing the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Lam Research AG
    Inventors: Rainer Obweger, Andreas Gleissner, Thomas Wirnsberger, Franz Kumnig, Alessandro Baldaro, Christian Thomas Fischer, Mu Hung Chou, Rafal Ryszard Dylewicz, Nathan Lavdovsky, Ivan L. Berry, III
  • Publication number: 20200090956
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber that provides a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber. A heater is positioned relative to the chuck so as to heat a wafer shaped article held on the chuck from one side only and without contacting the wafer shaped article. The heater emits radiation having a maximum intensity in a wavelength range from 390 nm to 550 nm. At least one first liquid dispenser is positioned relative to the chuck so as to dispense a process liquid onto a side of a wafer shaped article that is opposite the side of the wafer-shaped article facing the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Rainer Obweger, Andreas Gleissner, Thomas Wirnsberger, Franz Kumnig, Alessandro Baldaro, Christian Fischer, Mu Hung Chou, Rafal Ryszard Dylewicz, Nathan Lavdovsky, Ivan L. Berry
  • Patent number: 10490426
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber that provides a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber. A heater is positioned relative to the chuck so as to heat a wafer shaped article held on the chuck from one side only and without contacting the wafer shaped article. The heater emits radiation having a maximum intensity in a wavelength range from 390 nm to 550 nm. At least one first liquid dispenser is positioned relative to the chuck so as to dispense a process liquid onto a side of a wafer shaped article that is opposite the side of the wafer-shaped article facing the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Rainer Obweger, Andreas Gleissner, Thomas Wirnsberger, Franz Kumnig, Alessandro Baldaro, Christian Thomas Fischer, Mu Hung Chou, Rafal Ryszard Dylewicz, Nathan Lavdovsky, Ivan L. Berry, III
  • Patent number: 10269615
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber. The closed process chamber comprises a housing providing a gas-tight enclosure, a rotary chuck located within the closed process chamber and adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon, and an interior cover disposed within said closed process chamber. The interior cover is movable between a first position in which the rotary chuck communicates with an outer wall of the closed process chamber, and a second position in which the interior cover seals against an inner surface of the closed process chamber adjacent the rotary chuck to define a gas-tight inner process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Tschinderle, Andreas Gleissner, Thomas Wirnsberger, Rainer Obweger
  • Patent number: 10056287
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber. The closed process chamber comprises a housing providing a gas-tight enclosure, a rotary chuck located within the closed process chamber and adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon, and an interior cover disposed within said closed process chamber. The interior cover is movable between a first position in which the rotary chuck communicates with an outer wall of the closed process chamber, and a second position in which the interior cover seals against an inner surface of the closed process chamber adjacent the rotary chuck to define a gas-tight inner process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Tschinderle, Andreas Gleissner, Thomas Wirnsberger, Rainer Obweger
  • Patent number: 10043686
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing wafer-shaped articles, comprises a closed process chamber providing a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber, and is adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon. A lid is secured to an upper part of the closed process chamber, and comprises a lower surface facing inwardly of the chamber. At least one heating element heats the lower surface of the lid to a desired temperature, so as to prevent condensation of process vapor on the inwardly facing surface of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventor: Rainer Obweger
  • Patent number: 9960057
    Abstract: A device for measuring the distribution and/or impulse of a series of droplets comprises a piezoelectric sensor positioned relative to a source of droplets such that each of a plurality of droplets contacts the piezoelectric sensor in succession, thereby to generate an electrical signal. Logic circuitry is configured to calculate one or more frequencies from the electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Michael Dalmer, Alexander Lippert, Philipp Engesser, Rainer Obweger
  • Patent number: 9653328
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a surface of an article includes a chamber for receiving an article to be treated. A dispenser dispenses a treatment liquid including inorganic acid onto the article. A tank stores the treatment liquid. An ozone generator communicates with a supply line entering or exiting the tank to mix ozone with the treatment liquid. A cooler cools the treatment liquid to a subambient temperature in a range of 3° C. to less than 20° C. A heater heats a surface of an article to be treated to a temperature at least 30° C. greater than a temperature of the treatment liquid when applied to the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Lam Research AG
    Inventors: Harald Okorn-Schmidt, Franz Kumning, Rainer Obweger, Thomas Wirnsberger
  • Patent number: 9633890
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a rotary chuck having a series of pins adapted to hold a wafer shaped article on the rotary chuck. Each of the pins comprises a cylindrical body and a projecting gripping portion formed integrally therewith. The cylindrical body and gripping portion are made from a ceramic material. The gripping portion comprises cylindrical surfaces having a common generatrix with surfaces of the cylindrical body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Lam Research AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Tschinderle, Andreas Gleissner, Thomas Wirnsberger, Franz Kumnig, Rainer Obweger
  • Patent number: 9597701
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber providing a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber, and is adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon. A lid is secured to an upper part of the closed process chamber. The lid comprises an annular chamber, gas inlets communicating with the annular chamber and opening on a surface of the lid facing outwardly of the closed process chamber, and gas outlets communicating with the annular chamber and opening on a surface of the lid facing inwardly of the closed process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Rainer Obweger, Andreas Gleissner, Philipp Engesser
  • Publication number: 20160181129
    Abstract: A device for measuring the distribution and/or impulse of a series of droplets comprises a piezoelectric sensor positioned relative to a source of droplets such that each of a plurality of droplets contacts the piezoelectric sensor in succession, thereby to generate an electrical signal. Logic circuitry is configured to calculate one or more frequencies from the electrical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Michael DALMER, Alexander LIPPERT, Philipp ENGESSER, Rainer OBWEGER
  • Publication number: 20160064242
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber that provides a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber. A heater is positioned relative to the chuck so as to heat a wafer shaped article held on the chuck from one side only and without contacting the wafer shaped article. The heater emits radiation having a maximum intensity in a wavelength range from 390 nm to 550 nm. At least one first liquid dispenser is positioned relative to the chuck so as to dispense a process liquid onto a side of a wafer shaped article that is opposite the side of the wafer-shaped article facing the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Rainer OBWEGER, Andreas GLEISSNER, Thomas WIRNSBERGER, Franz KUMNIG, Alessandro BALDARO, Christian Thomas FISCHER, Mu Hung CHOU, Rafal Ryszard DYLEWICZ, Nathan LAVDOVSKY, Ivan L. Berry, III
  • Publication number: 20160027680
    Abstract: A device for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber. The closed process chamber comprises a housing providing a gas-tight enclosure, a rotary chuck located within the closed process chamber and adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon, and an interior cover disposed within said closed process chamber. The interior cover is movable between a first position in which the rotary chuck communicates with an outer wall of the closed process chamber, and a second position in which the interior cover seals against an inner surface of the closed process chamber adjacent the rotary chuck to define a gas-tight inner process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Ulrich TSCHINDERLE, Andreas GLEISSNER, Thomas WIRNSBERGER, Rainer OBWEGER
  • Publication number: 20150187629
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing wafer-shaped articles comprises a closed process chamber providing a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber, and is adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon. A lid is secured to an upper part of the closed process chamber. The lid comprises an annular chamber, gas inlets communicating with the annular chamber and opening on a surface of the lid facing outwardly of the closed process chamber, and gas outlets communicating with the annular chamber and opening on a surface of the lid facing inwardly of the closed process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventors: Rainer OBWEGER, Andreas GLEISSNER, Philipp ENGESSER
  • Publication number: 20150187612
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing wafer-shaped articles, comprises a closed process chamber providing a gas-tight enclosure. A rotary chuck is located within the closed process chamber, and is adapted to hold a wafer shaped article thereon. A lid is secured to an upper part of the closed process chamber, and comprises a lower surface facing inwardly of the chamber. At least one heating element heats the lower surface of the lid to a desired temperature, so as to prevent condensation of process vapour on the inwardly facing surface of the lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH AG
    Inventor: Rainer OBWEGER
  • Patent number: 8974631
    Abstract: A device for fluid treatment of a plate-like article includes a rotary head for holding and rotating a plate-like article around a substantially vertical rotation axis drive elements to suspend and drive the rotary head without contact, the elements to suspend and drive the rotary head being arranged radially around the rotary head a substantially cylindrical sidewall, which is substantially concentric to the rotation axis, wherein the cylindrical sidewall is arranged between the rotary head and the drive elements and is introduced in the gap between the rotary head and the drive elements elevating members for lifting and lowering the rotary head and the wall relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research AG
    Inventor: Rainer Obweger
  • Patent number: 8833380
    Abstract: A device for treating a disc-like article with a fluid, including elements for dispensing a fluid onto the article and a chuck for holding and rotating the article around an axis perpendicular thereto, the chuck including a base body, a drive ring, and gripping members for contacting the article at its edge. The gripping members are eccentrically movable with respect to the center of the article and driven by a drive ring rotatably mounted to the base body so that the drive ring is rotatable against the base body around the axis. The relative rotational movement of the drive ring against the base body is carried out by either holding the base body and rotating the drive ring or by holding the drive ring and rotating the base body, whereby the to-be-held-part (drive ring or base body) is held without touching the respective to-be-held-part by magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research AG
    Inventors: Rainer Obweger, Franz Kumnig, Thomas Wirnsberger
  • Publication number: 20140209129
    Abstract: Improved removal of ion-implanted photoresist in a single wafer front-end wet processing station is achieved by dissolving gaseous ozone into relatively cool inorganic acid, dispensing the acid ozone mixture onto a wafer, and rapidly heating the surface of the wafer to a temperature at least 30° C. higher than the temperature of the acid ozone mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH AB
    Inventors: Harald OKORN-SCHMIDT, Franz KUMNING, Rainer OBWEGER, Thomas WIRNSBERGER
  • Patent number: 8791614
    Abstract: A device for supporting and rotating a disc-like article includes: a first rotor including a support for supporting the disc-like article, wherein the first rotor is located within a process chamber, a second rotor connected to a drive mechanism for rotating the second rotor, wherein the second rotor is coupled to the first rotor by magnetic forces without touching the first rotor, and the second rotor is located outside the process chamber and a wall is arranged between the first rotor and the second rotor, and at least one magnetic couple, wherein the couple includes a first coupling part and a second coupling part, wherein the first coupling part includes a coupling magnet mounted to the first rotor and the second coupling part includes a high temperature superconducting material, wherein the magnetic couple(s) are arranged and/or formed so that no degree of freedom remains between the first and second rotor so that the first rotor moves together with the second rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research AG
    Inventors: Rainer Obweger, Frank Werfel
  • Patent number: 8709165
    Abstract: Improved removal of ion-implanted photoresist in a single wafer front-end wet processing station is achieved by dissolving gaseous ozone into relatively cool inorganic acid, dispensing the acid ozone mixture onto a wafer, and rapidly heating the surface of the wafer to a temperature at least 30° C. higher than the temperature of the acid ozone mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research AG
    Inventors: Harald Okorn-Schmidt, Franz Kumning, Rainer Obweger, Thomas Wirnsberger