Patents by Inventor Sunil Wickramanayaka

Sunil Wickramanayaka 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).

  • Publication number: 20090194412
    Abstract: A multi-cathode ionized physical vapor deposition system includes a reactor in which a wafer holder is arranged at a bottom wall, and at least two angled cathodes opposite a wafer are arranged at a top wall, each of the cathodes is supplied with a RF current via a matching circuit, and a pressure control mechanism including gas inlets and a gas outlet. In the system, an inner pressure of the reactor is controlled to be relatively high pressure by the pressure control mechanism. Thus, the system can form better side-wall and bottom coverage in patterned holes or trenches on the wafer surface using the atoms sputtered on each of the angled multi-cathodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil WICKRAMANAYAKA, Naoki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20090194413
    Abstract: A multi-cathode ionized physical vapor deposition system includes a reactor in which a wafer holder is arranged at a bottom wall, and at least two angled cathodes opposite a wafer are arranged at a top wall, each of the cathodes is supplied with a RF current via a matching circuit, and a pressure control mechanism including gas inlets and a gas outlet. In the system, an inner pressure of the reactor is controlled to be relatively high pressure by the pressure control mechanism. Thus, the system can form better side-wall and bottom coverage in patterned holes or trenches on the wafer surface using the atoms sputtered on each of the angled multi-cathodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil WICKRAMANAYAKA, Naoki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20090178917
    Abstract: A multi-cathode ionized physical vapor deposition system includes a reactor in which a wafer holder is arranged at a bottom wall, and at least two angled cathodes opposite a wafer are arranged at a top wall, each of the cathodes is supplied with a RF current via a matching circuit, and a pressure control mechanism including gas inlets and a gas outlet. In the system, an inner pressure of the reactor is controlled to be relatively high pressure by the pressure control mechanism. Thus, the system can form better side-wall and bottom coverage in patterned holes or trenches on the wafer surface using the atoms sputtered on each of the angled multi-cathodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Naoki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090178920
    Abstract: A multi-cathode ionized physical vapor deposition system includes a reactor in which a wafer holder is arranged at a bottom wall, and at least two angled cathodes opposite a wafer are arranged at a top wall, each of the cathodes is supplied with a RF current via a matching circuit, and a pressure control mechanism including gas inlets and a gas outlet. In the system, an inner pressure of the reactor is controlled to be relatively high pressure by the pressure control mechanism. Thus, the system can form better side-wall and bottom coverage in patterned holes or trenches on the wafer surface using the atoms sputtered on each of the angled multi-cathodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil WICKRAMANAYAKA, Naoki WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20090122459
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck device provided with a dielectric plate with a surface embossed to give it a plurality of projections, an electrode, and an external power source, wherein substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections are covered by conductor wiring and the conductor wiring electrically connects the substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections. At the time of substrate processing, when the embossed projections contact the back of the substrate, the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring is made the same in potential due to the migration of the charges, the generation of force between the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring being in contact with the same is prevented, and a rubbing state between the two is prevented. Due to this, the electrostatic chuck device reduces the generation of particles, easily and stably removes and conveys substrates, and realizes a high yield and system operating rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Mizuno, Masahito Ishihara, Sunil Wickramanayaka, Naoki Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20090059462
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck device provided with a dielectric plate with a surface embossed to give it a plurality of projections, an electrode, and an external power source, wherein substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections are covered by conductor wiring and the conductor wiring electrically connects the substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections. At the time of substrate processing, when the embossed projections contact the back of the substrate, the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring is made the same in potential due to the migration of the charges, the generation of force between the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring being in contact with the same is prevented, and a rubbing state between the two is prevented. Due to this, the electrostatic chuck device reduces the generation of particles, easily and stably removes and conveys substrates, and realizes a high yield and system operating rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Mizuno, Masahito Ishihara, Sunil Wickramanayaka, Naoki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7164571
    Abstract: A wafer stage for holding a wafer in a chamber of a plasma processing system, the wafer stage includes an electrode on which a wafer is placed, to which electrical current is supplied, a diameter of the electrode is larger than a diameter of said wafer, a plurality of magnets separately arranged on an outermost region of said electrode and said magnets are arranged such that alternate magnetic poles face towards the inside of the chamber, and an outer-ring placed around said wafer, the outer ring having a magnetic metal ring at a lower side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Yoshikazu Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7159537
    Abstract: A plasma processing system includes a reactor, a top electrode made of a magnetic or ferromagnetic metal or a metal-alloy, wherein a RF or DC power is applied to generate plasma within the reactor; a gas showerhead fixed to the top electrode; a sheet-like magnetic assembly bound to the upper surface of the gas showerhead, which includes a plurality of separate magnets, a metal sheet made of a ferromagnetic metal, and a deformable film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Masahito Ishihara, Yoshikazu Nozaki, Hiroshi Doi
  • Publication number: 20060281314
    Abstract: A wafer holder including a wafer stage and a wafer stage outer-ring surrounding the wafer stage wherein the wafer stage has a diameter smaller than the diameter of a wafer loaded on the wafer stage, the wafer stage outer-ring has an inner diameter at the upper side of the outer-ring which is larger than the diameter of the wafer loaded on the wafer stage, and the upper surface of the outer-ring lies above the upper surface of the wafer loaded on the wafer stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Canon Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil Wickramanayaka
  • Publication number: 20060158823
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck device provided with a dielectric plate with a surface embossed to give it a plurality of projections, an electrode, and an external power source, wherein substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections are covered by conductor wiring and the conductor wiring electrically connects the substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections. At the time of substrate processing, when the embossed projections contact the back of the substrate, the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring is made the same in potential due to the migration of the charges, the generation of force between the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring being in contact with the same is prevented, and a rubbing state between the two is prevented. Due to this, the electrostatic chuck device reduces the generation of particles, easily and stably removes and conveys substrates, and realizes a high yield and system operating rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 20, 2006
    Applicant: ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigeru Mizuno, Masahito Ishihara, Sunil Wickramanayaka, Naoki Miyazaki
  • Publication number: 20050272196
    Abstract: A method of depositing a high permittivity dielectric film on a doped silicon or silicon compound layer of a wafer. The method includes a first step of nitriding a specific element (A) such as hafnium Hf to form a nitride film (AxNy) on the silicon layer, wherein the specific element (A) and nitrogen (N) in the nitride film (AxNy) have a predetermined fraction relationship between x and y; a second step of oxidizing the nitride film in a oxygen atmosphere to form the dielectric film (AON).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Publication date: December 8, 2005
    Applicant: ANELVA Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Naoki Yamada
  • Publication number: 20050185359
    Abstract: A wafer stage for holding a wafer in a chamber of a plasma processing system, the wafer stage includes an electrode on which a wafer is placed, to which electrical current is supplied, a diameter of the electrode is larger than a diameter of said wafer, a plurality of magnets separately arranged on an outermost region of said electrode and said magnets are arranged such that alternate magnetic poles face towards the inside of the chamber, and an outer-ring placed around said wafer, the outer ring having a magnetic metal ring at a lower side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2005
    Publication date: August 25, 2005
    Applicant: ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Yoshikazu Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20050150457
    Abstract: A plasma-assisted sputter deposition system includes a reactor 1 into which a process gas is introduced; a doughnut-shaped electrode to be sputtered by plasma, in which a lower surface thereof is angled to a surface of a wafer; a spinning plate that spin on its central axis while moving over a circle above the doughnut-shaped electrode, in which the spinning plate contains magnet arrangement; an electrical power sources connected to the doughnut-shaped electrode, and a wafer holder for placing a wafer for film deposition, which is at rest during the film deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sunil Wickramanayaka
  • Publication number: 20050115827
    Abstract: A multi-cathode ionized physical vapor deposition system includes a reactor in which a wafer holder is arranged at a bottom wall, and at least two angled cathodes opposite a wafer are arranged at a top wall, each of the cathodes is supplied with a RF current via a matching circuit, and a pressure control mechanism including gas inlets and a gas outlet. In the system, an inner pressure of the reactor is controlled to be relatively high pressure by the pressure control mechanism. Thus, the system can form better side-wall and bottom coverage in patterned holes or trenches on the wafer surface using the atoms sputtered on each of the angled multi-cathodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: June 2, 2005
    Applicant: ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Naoki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20050028935
    Abstract: A plasma processing system includes a reactor, a top electrode made of a magnetic or ferromagnetic metal or a metal-alloy, wherein a RF or DC power is applied to generate plasma within the reactor; a gas showerhead fixed to the top electrode; a sheet-like magnetic assembly bound to the upper surface of the gas showerhead, which includes a plurality of separate magnets, a metal sheet made of a ferromagnetic metal, and a deformable film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Applicant: ANELVA Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Masahito Ishihara, Yoshikazu Nozaki, Hiroshi Doi
  • Publication number: 20040040665
    Abstract: An electrostatic chuck device provided with a dielectric plate with a surface embossed to give it a plurality of projections, an electrode, and an external power source, wherein substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections are covered by conductor wiring and the conductor wiring electrically connects the substrate supporting surfaces of the plurality of projections. At the time of substrate processing, when the embossed projections contact the back of the substrate, the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring is made the same in potential due to the migration of the charges, the generation of force between the back of the substrate and the conductor wiring being in contact with the same is prevented, and a rubbing state between the two is prevented. Due to this, the electrostatic chuck device reduces the generation of particles, easily and stably removes and conveys substrates, and realizes a high yield and system operating rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Applicant: ANELVA Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Mizuno, Masahito Ishihara, Sunil Wickramanayaka, Naoki Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6462482
    Abstract: A plasma processing system for sputter deposition application is configured by a reactor including two parallel capacitively-coupled electrodes called upper and lower electrodes, and a multi-pole magnet arrangement over the outer region of the upper electrode. The magnets are assembled on a metal ring in order to rotate over the upper electrode. The target plate is fixed to the upper electrode which is given only a high-frequency rf current, or high-frequency rf current and a DC voltage together. The lower electrode where the substrate is placed, is given a MF, HF or VHF rf current in order to generate a negative self bias voltage on the lower electrode to extract ionized sputtered-atoms that fill contact-holes on the substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Anelva Corporation
    Inventors: Sunil Wickramanayaka, Yukito Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6333601
    Abstract: A planar gas introducing unit arranged within a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) reactor includes a top electrode, a gas inlet plate having a plurality of gas inlet holes and a gas reservoir 20 formed between the top electrode and the gas inlet plate. The top electrode includes a plurality of magnets which are arranged such that the magnets operate to substantially prevent an enhanced erosion of the plurality of gas inlet holes. Each of the plurality of magnets can be arranged to correspond to a gas inlet hole such that an axis of each of the plurality of magnets is aligned with an axis of a corresponding gas inlet hole and magnetic fields emitted from the plurality of magnets pass through the gas inlet holes in a direction substantially corresponding to the axis of the corresponding gas inlet hole. The planar gas introducing unit of the present invention prevents plasma enhanced erosion generated at both ends of the gas inlet holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil Wickramanayaka
  • Patent number: 6225746
    Abstract: A plasma processing reactor includes a helical resonator including a top plate and a helical coil, the helical coil is made of a metal with a length of &lgr;/4, wherein n is an integer and &lgr; is a wavelength of rf frequency applied to the helical coil. The reactor also includes a plasma process chamber including a wafer holder arranged at a lower position therein and a wafer to be processed is loaded on the wafer holder. The helical resonator has a vertical bar for introducing a gas, the vertical bar is fixed to the top plate of the helical resonator and is connected to a gas inlet port. A partition wall separates the helical resonator and the plasma process chamber. The partition wall includes an outer metal ring, a circular central metal plate, and a doughnut-shaped dielectric plate between the outer metal ring and the central metal plate, the doughnut-shaped dielectric plate having an inner diameter and an outer diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil Wickramanayaka
  • Patent number: 6216632
    Abstract: A plasma processing system includes a reactor having a plasma source and a substrate holder. The reactor is configured by a top plate made of a nonmagnetic metal, a bottom plate made of a metal, and a cylindrical side wall having at least in part a section made of ceramic. The substrate holder is placed in the bottom plate. A plurality of magnets is separately arranged on the top plate. The polarity of the magnets facing the inside of the reactor is alternately changed, and the magnets generate a magnetic field with closed magnetic fluxes near to the inner surface of the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Anelva Corporation
    Inventor: Sunil Wickramanayaka