Patents by Inventor Robert L. Jackson
Robert L. Jackson 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).
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Publication number: 20120279864Abstract: Several techniques are described for reducing or mitigating the formation of seams and/or voids in electroplating the interior regions of microscopic recessed features. Cathodic polarization is used to mitigate the deleterious effects of introducing a substrate plated with a seed layer into an electroplating solution. Also described are diffusion-controlled electroplating techniques to provide for bottom-up filling of trenches and vias, avoiding thereby sidewalls growing together to create seams/voids. A preliminary plating step is also described that plates a thin film of conductor on the interior surfaces of features leading to adequate electrical conductivity to the feature bottom, facilitating bottom-up filling.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, Vijay Bhaskaran, Evan E. Patton, Robert L. Jackson, Jonathan Reid
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Publication number: 20120036081Abstract: Disclosed is an interactive web based method and system facilitating an employee to virtually and electronically process their employee eligibility verification and certification with a live remote Notary Public or authorized third party agent; comprising on demand functionality implementing web-based appointment booking, on-line payment platform, secure web based interactive videoconferencing communication 42 in real-time, digital webcam, real-time identification authenticating, digital video secure socket layer signing certificate, secure digital and annotating signing, network document delivery system, and secure archive. Method and system for a real-time interactive web/media based electronic new or remote hire document processing system interfaced/interlinked to an employer authorized distant/remote notaries public or 3rd party agent.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2011Publication date: February 9, 2012Inventors: Brenda F. HATTER, Jesse A. HATTER, II, Sariyah Y. HATTER, Miykael S. HATTER, Rosie J. HATTER, Michael D. HATTER, Robert L. JACKSON, Audrella JACKSON, Gene WILEY, Linton WILEY, Anthony L. JACKSON, Gregory JONES, Curtis A. PATTON, Edward Ederaine, Derwin K. Stewart, Reginald Ferrell
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Patent number: 8048280Abstract: Several techniques are described for reducing or mitigating the formation of seams and/or voids in electroplating the interior regions of microscopic recessed features. Cathodic polarization is used to mitigate the deleterious effects of introducing a substrate plated with a seed layer into an electroplating solution. Also described are diffusion-controlled electroplating techniques to provide for bottom-up filling of trenches and vias, avoiding thereby sidewalls growing together to create seams/voids. A preliminary plating step is also described that plates a thin film of conductor on the interior surfaces of features leading to adequate electrical conductivity to the feature bottom, facilitating bottom-up filling.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2005Date of Patent: November 1, 2011Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, Vijay Bhaskaran, Evan E. Patton, Robert L. Jackson, Jonathan Reid
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Patent number: 7812971Abstract: An autofocus system and method that includes a controllable light source having at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths adapted for illuminating an object; a camera receiving light from said light source reflected from a portion of said object and generating output signals responsive to said received light; a controller connected to said camera and said controllable light source for positioning said camera and sequentially illuminating a first portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths, moving the camera to a second position and sequentially illuminating a second portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths; and a data processor connected to said camera and receiving said output signals and for each portion, comparing the output signals associated with each wavelength and determining a focus parameter from said comparison.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 12, 2010Assignee: Quality Vision International, Inc.Inventors: Robert L. Jackson, Edward T. Polidor
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Patent number: 7695563Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing a tungsten material on a substrate within a process chamber is provided which includes exposing the substrate to a gaseous mixture containing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas to deposit a tungsten nucleation layer on the substrate during a tungsten deposition process. The process further includes removing reaction by-products generated during the tungsten deposition process from the process chamber, exposing the substrate to the reducing gas to react with residual tungsten precursor within the process chamber during a soak process, removing reaction by-products generated during the soak process from the process chamber, and repeating the tungsten deposition process and the soak process during a cyclic deposition process. In the examples, the reducing gas may contain diborane or silane.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2007Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xinliang Lu, Ping Jian, Jong Hyun Yoo, Ken Kaung Lai, Alfred W. Mak, Robert L. Jackson, Ming Xi
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Publication number: 20090003815Abstract: An improved autofocus system and method that includes a controllable light source having at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths adapted for illuminating an object; a camera receiving light from said light source reflected from a portion of said object and generating output signals responsive to said received light; a controller connected to said camera and said controllable light source for positioning said camera and sequentially illuminating a first portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths, moving the camera to a second position and sequentially illuminating a second portion of the object with at least two selectively activated substantially monochromatic output wavelengths; and a data processor connected to said camera and receiving said output signals and for each portion, comparing the output signals associated with each wavelength and determining a focus parameter from said comparisonType: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2007Publication date: January 1, 2009Applicant: Quality Vision InternationalInventors: Edward T. Polidor, Robert L. Jackson
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Publication number: 20080317954Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing a tungsten material on a substrate within a process chamber is provided which includes exposing the substrate to a gaseous mixture containing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas to deposit a tungsten nucleation layer on the substrate during a tungsten deposition process. The process further includes removing reaction by-products generated during the tungsten deposition process from the process chamber, exposing the substrate to the reducing gas to react with residual tungsten precursor within the process chamber during a soak process, removing reaction by-products generated during the soak process from the process chamber, and repeating the tungsten deposition process and the soak process during a cyclic deposition process. In the examples, the reducing gas may contain diborane or silane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2007Publication date: December 25, 2008Inventors: XINLIANG LU, Ping Jian, Jong Hyun Yoo, Ken Kaung Lai, Alfred W. Mak, Robert L. Jackson, Ming Xi
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Patent number: 7429210Abstract: A polishing article and method for manufacturing a polishing article for use in a chemical mechanical polishing process is disclosed. The polishing article has a plurality of polishing material tiles separated by grooves formed in or through a polishing material and may be adhesively bound to a base film. The polishing article may include various polygonal tiles and oval shapes formed in the polishing material which allow enhanced slurry retention and ease in rolling from a polishing material supply roll and onto a take-up roll in a web type platen assembly. The polishing article may also include an upper carrier film adapted to minimize delaminating stress placed in an area of the polishing article that is not adapted for polishing. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the various embodiments of the polishing article and a replacement supply roll are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: September 30, 2008Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin A. Bonner, Peter McReynolds, Gregory E. Menk, Anand N. Iyer, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Erik S. Rondum, Robert L. Jackson, Garlen Leung
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Publication number: 20080182413Abstract: Methods and compositions for planarizing a substrate surface with selective removal rates and low dishing are provided. One embodiment provides a method for selectively removing a dielectric disposed on a substrate having at least a first and a second dielectric material disposed thereon. The method generally includes positioning the substrate in proximity with a fixed abrasive polishing pad, dispensing an abrasive free polishing composition having at least one organic compound and a surfactant therein between the substrate and the polishing pad, and selectively polishing the second dielectric material relative to the first dielectric material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Inventors: GREGORY E. MENK, Robert L. Jackson, Garlen C. Leung, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Peter McReynolds, Anand N. Iyer
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Patent number: 7211144Abstract: A method of forming a tungsten nucleation layer using a sequential deposition process. The tungsten nucleation layer is formed by reacting pulses of a tungsten-containing precursor and a reducing gas in a process chamber to deposit tungsten on the substrate. Thereafter, reaction by-products generated from the tungsten deposition are removed from the process chamber. After the reaction by-products are removed from the process chamber, a flow of the reducing gas is provided to the process chamber to react with residual tungsten-containing precursor remaining therein. Such a deposition process forms tungsten nucleation layers having good step coverage. The sequential deposition process of reacting pulses of the tungsten-containing precursor and the reducing gas, removing reaction by-products, and than providing a flow of the reducing gas to the process chamber may be repeated until a desired thickness for the tungsten nucleation layer is formed.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2002Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xinliang Lu, Ping Jian, Jong Hyun Yoo, Ken Kaung Lai, Alfred W. Mak, Robert L. Jackson, Ming Xi
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Patent number: 7179159Abstract: A polishing article and method for manufacturing a polishing article for use in a chemical mechanical polishing process is disclosed. The polishing article has a plurality of polishing material tiles separated by grooves formed in or through a polishing material and may be adhesively bound to a base film. The polishing article may include various polygonal tiles and oval shapes formed in the polishing material which allow enhanced slurry retention and ease in rolling from a polishing material supply roll and onto a take-up roll in a web type platen assembly. The polishing article may also include an upper carrier film adapted to minimize delaminating stress placed in an area of the polishing article that is not adapted for polishing. A method and apparatus for manufacturing the various embodiments of the polishing article and a replacement supply roll are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 20, 2007Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin A. Bonner, Peter McReynolds, Gregory E. Menk, Anand N. Iyer, Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu, Erik S. Rondum, Robert L. Jackson, Garlen Leung
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Patent number: 6946065Abstract: Several techniques are described for reducing or mitigating the formation of seams and/or voids in electroplating the interior regions of microscopic recessed features. Cathodic polarization is used to mitigate the deleterious effects of introducing a substrate plated with a seed layer into an electroplating solution. Also described are diffusion-controlled electroplating techniques to provide for bottom-up filling of trenches and vias, avoiding thereby sidewalls growing together to create seams/voids. A preliminary plating step is also described that plates a thin film of conductor on the interior surfaces of features leading to adequate electrical conductivity to the feature bottom, facilitating bottom-up filling.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2000Date of Patent: September 20, 2005Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, Vijay Bhaskaran, Evan E. Patton, Robert L. Jackson, Jonathan Reid
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Patent number: 6890416Abstract: An electroplating apparatus prevents anode-mediated degradation of electrolyte additives by creating a mechanism for maintaining separate anolyte and catholyte and preventing mixing thereof within a plating chamber. The separation is accomplished by interposing a porous chemical transport barrier between the anode and cathode. The transport barrier limits the chemical transport (via diffusion and/or convection) of all species but allows migration of ionic species (and hence passage of current) during application of sufficiently large electric fields within electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2002Date of Patent: May 10, 2005Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, Evan E. Patton, Robert L. Jackson, Jonathan D. Reid
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Publication number: 20030224217Abstract: A process for treating refractory metal-boron layers deposited by atomic layer deposition resulting in the formation of a ternary amorphous refractory metal-nitrogen-boron film is disclosed. The resulting ternary film remains amorphous following thermal annealing at temperatures up to 800° C. The ternary films are formed following thermal annealing in a reactive nitrogen-containing gas. Subsequent processing does not disrupt the amorphous character of the ternary film. arrangement where a blended solution is supplied to a remote point of use.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2002Publication date: December 4, 2003Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jeong Soo Byun, Alfred W. Mak, Hui Zhang, Hyungsuk Alexander Yoon, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Robert L. Jackson, Ming Xi, Randhir P.S. Thakur
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Publication number: 20030127043Abstract: A method of forming a tungsten nucleation layer using a sequential deposition process. The tungsten nucleation layer is formed by reacting pulses of a tungsten-containing precursor and a reducing gas in a process chamber to deposit tungsten on the substrate. Thereafter, reaction by-products generated from the tungsten deposition are removed from the process chamber. After the reaction by-products are removed from the process chamber, a flow of the reducing gas is provided to the process chamber to react with residual tungsten-containing precursor remaining therein. Such a deposition process forms tungsten nucleation layers having good step coverage. The sequential deposition process of reacting pulses of the tungsten-containing precursor and the reducing gas, removing reaction by-products, and than providing a flow of the reducing gas to the process chamber may be repeated until a desired thickness for the tungsten nucleation layer is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Xinliang Lu, Ping Jian, John Hyun Yoo, Ken Kaung Lai, Alfred W. Mak, Robert L. Jackson, Ming Xi
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Publication number: 20030123216Abstract: A method and apparatus of depositing a tungsten film by cyclical deposition in the formation of tungsten silicide for use in capacitor structures is provided. One embodiment of forming an electrode for a capacitor structure comprises depositing a polysilicon layer over a structure and depositing a tungsten layer over the polysilicon layer by cyclical deposition. The tungsten layer is annealed to form a tungsten silicide layer from the polysilicon layer and the tungsten layer. The tungsten silicide layer acts as one electrode in the capacitor structure. In one aspect, the tungsten silicide layer may be used to form three-dimensional capacitor structures, such as trench capacitors, crown capacitors, and other types of capacitors. In another aspect, the tungsten silicide layer may be used to form capacitor structures which comprise a hemi-spherical silicon grain layer or a rough polysilicon layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2001Publication date: July 3, 2003Inventors: Hyungsuk A. Yoon, Hui Zhang, Michael X. Yang, Ken Kaung Lai, Robert L. Jackson, Alfred W. Mak, Ming Xi
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Patent number: 6527920Abstract: An electroplating apparatus prevents anode-mediated degradation of electrolyte additives by creating a mechanism for maintaining separate anolyte and catholyte and preventing mixing thereof within a plating chamber. The separation is accomplished by interposing a porous chemical transport barrier between the anode and cathode. The transport barrier limits the chemical transport (via diffusion and/or convection) of all species but allows migration of ionic species (and hence passage of current) during application of sufficiently large electric fields within electrolyte.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2000Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.Inventors: Steven T. Mayer, Evan E. Patton, Robert L. Jackson, Jonathan D. Reid
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Patent number: 6443709Abstract: An oscillating spring valve fluid pumping system for use in a flowing stream of fluid comprises a spring valve, check valve and a housing with inlet and two outlets, one outlet for each valve. As fluid enters the system, it is directed to a spring valve which is biased in the open position by a first spring. Fluid passing by the spring valve exits the housing from one of the outlets and returns to the stream. When a predetermined amount of pressure is reached, the spring valve closes thus creating a back pressure and redirecting the fluid through a check valve mechanism to relieve that pressure. Fluid passing the check valve escapes through one of the outlets for distribution by the user. Concurrently, the pressure at the spring valve is reduced thereby causing the spring valve to open against a second spring. As fluid continues to enter the system, the spring valve repeatedly oscillates thus producing an increased pressure head at the system outlet.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2000Date of Patent: September 3, 2002Inventor: Robert L Jackson
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Publication number: 20010042338Abstract: A support that prevents crawling insects from accessing the structure that is being supported. The support includes a shaft having a base at one end and a platform for holding a load at the other end. A moat is positioned on the shaft below the platform, which prevents insects from crawling further upward and thereby accessing the load being supported. A shield that is slidably received by the shaft is positioned above the moat in order to prevent particulate from entering moat.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2001Publication date: November 22, 2001Inventor: Robert L. Jackson
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Patent number: 6139243Abstract: A method and system are provided for flipping a tray of parts such as integrated circuit packages including a pair of flippable storage trays. A first storage tray has an upper surface which forms a grid of storage compartments wherein each of the storage compartments is adapted to hold a single integrated circuit package. Initially, the first tray is received at a flip station from a first part processing station. Then, the first and second trays are joined together so that they mate. Then, the mated first and second trays are inverted so that the packages are held in the second tray. Then, the first and second trays are separated and the second tray which now holds the plurality of packages is transferred to a second part processing station. Then, the cycle is repeated with a third tray of parts and the now empty first tray.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 1997Date of Patent: October 31, 2000Assignee: Systemation EngineeringInventors: Robert L. Jackson, Russell E. Dudley, David A. Noblett