Patents Assigned to Aixtron, SE
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Patent number: 10544519Abstract: During a pre-treat process, hydrogen plasma is used to remove contaminants (e.g., oxygen, carbon) from a surface of a wafer. The hydrogen plasma may be injected into the plasma chamber via an elongated injector nozzle. Using such elongated injector nozzle, a flow of hydrogen plasma with a significant radial velocity flows over the wafer surface, and transports volatile compounds and other contaminant away from the wafer surface to an exhaust manifold. A protective liner made from crystalline silicon or polysilicon may be disposed on an inner surface of the plasma chamber to prevent contaminants from being released from the surface of the plasma chamber. To further decrease the sources of contaminants, an exhaust restrictor made from silicon may be employed to prevent hydrogen plasma from flowing into the exhaust manifold and prevent volatile compounds and other contaminants from flowing from the exhaust manifold back into the plasma chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Stephen Edward Savas, Miguel Angel Saldana, Dan Lester Cossentine, Hae Young Kim, Subramanian Tamilmani, Niloy Mukherjee, M Ziaul Karim
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Patent number: 10526705Abstract: In a CVD reactor, flushing gases of different heat conductivities are used to flush a gap between a substrate holder and a heating system. The lower side of the substrate holder is configured differently in a central region with respect to the heat transmission from the heating system to the substrate holder, than in a circumferential region that surrounds the central region. The gap has such a gap height that, upon a change of a first flushing gas with a first heat conductivity to a second flushing gas with a second heat conductivity, the heat supplied from the heating system to the substrate holder changes differently in the circumferential region than in the central region.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Adam Boyd, Daniel Claessens, Hugo Silva
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Patent number: 10526708Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for plasma-based processing of a substrate based on a plasma source having a first, second and third electrodes disposed above a pedestal. The second electrode is disposed between the first and third electrodes. A first gap is formed between the first electrode and the pedestal and between the third electrode and the pedestal. A second gap is formed between the first and second electrodes, and a third gap is formed between the second and third electrodes. A first radio frequency (RF) power supply is connected to the first and third electrodes and is configured to predominantly deliver power to plasmas located in the first gap. A second RF power supply is connected to the second electrode and is configured to predominantly deliver power to plasmas located in the second and third gaps.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Stephen E. Savas, Carl Galewski, Hood Chatham, Sai Mantripragada, Allan Wiesnoski, Sooyun Joh
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Patent number: 10501847Abstract: In a device and a method for generating vapor in a CVD or PVD device, particles are vaporized by bringing the particles into contact with a first heat transfer surface of a vaporization device. The vapor generated by vaporizing the particles is transported by a carrier gas out of the vaporization device and into a single or multistage modulation device. In a vapor transfer phase, second heat transfer surfaces of the modulation device are adjusted to a first modulation temperature, at which the vapor passes through the modulation device without condensing on the second heat transfer surfaces. At an intermission phase, the second heat transfer surfaces are adjusted to a second modulation temperature, at which at least some of the vapor condenses on the second heat transfer surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2015Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Michael Long, Birgit Irmgard Beccard, Claudia Cremer, Karl-Heinz Trimborn, Andy Eichler, Andreas Poqué
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Patent number: 10472718Abstract: A device and a method for depositing organic layers onto a substrate includes a process gas source with a temperature-controlled evaporator, and a carrier gas supply line which opens into the evaporator in order to supply a carrier gas flow into a temperature-controlled first transport line. A first dilution gas supply line, which opens into the first transport line, supplies a dilution gas flow into the first transport line. The device also comprises a temperature-controlled gas inlet element fluidly connected to the first transport line. A gaseous starting material can be supplied into a processing chamber via the gas inlet element. A substrate is disposed on a temperature-controlled susceptor located in the processing chamber, and a layer is grown on the substrate using the gaseous starting material.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2015Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Markus Gersdorff, Martin Dauelsberg, Baskar Pagadala Gopi, Michael Long
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Patent number: 10438823Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a plurality of zone heating apparatuses and a control apparatus. The reference variable of the control apparatus is a susceptor temperature. The controlled variable of the control apparatus is an actual temperature of the susceptor measured by a temperature sensor and the manipulated variable of the control apparatus is the total heating power fed into the heating apparatus. A heating power distributor receives the total heating power as an input variable and provides a zone heating power for each of the zone heating apparatuses as output variables. The sum of the zone heating powers corresponds to the total heating power and the zone heating powers have a specified ratio with respect to each other. In order to specify a robust control loop, the specified ratios are defined by distribution parameters, wherein at least one distribution parameter is a quotient of two zone heating powers.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventor: Daniel Brien
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Patent number: 10329668Abstract: A first and second process gas is fed into a device during a first and second process step, respectively. The device has an exhaust gas line through which a first and second exhaust gas is conveyed out of the device in the first and second process step, respectively. A first and second exhaust gas device is connected by means of a valve arrangement optionally to the exhaust gas line in a fluidly communicable and separable manner, with a first and second treatment member for treating an exhaust gas produced in the first and second process step, respectively. A gas feed device is arranged between the valve arrangement and the respective treatment members. A control device is provided whose control variable is the pressure difference between the total pressure in the respective exhaust gas devices and is configured to minimize the pressure difference during switching of the valve arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2015Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Patrick Franken, Markus Deufel
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Patent number: 10323322Abstract: A device for carrying out a CVD process comprises a gas inlet element, which is arranged in a reactor housing and has a gas outlet plate, which faces a process chamber, comprises a porous material and has a multiplicity of gas outlet openings, which are fed with process gases from a gas distributing volume arranged in the gas inlet element. In order to improve production aspects of a gas inlet element, in particular for a CVD reactor with a large coating area, it is proposed that the porous material forms the core of the gas outlet plate, the surface segments of which that come into contact with the process gas are sealed.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2014Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Baskar Pagadala Gopi, Michael Long, Markus Gersdorff
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Patent number: 10316408Abstract: A delivery device, manufacturing system, and process of manufacturing are disclosed. The delivery device includes a feed tube and a chemical vapor deposition coating applied over an inner surface of the feed tube, the chemical vapor deposition coating being formed from decomposition of dimethylsilane. The manufacturing system includes the delivery device and a chamber in selective fluid communication with the delivery device. The process of manufacturing uses the manufacturing system to produce an article.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignees: SilcoTek Corp., AIXTRON SEInventors: David A. Smith, Min Yuan, James B. Mattzela, Olaf Martin Wurzinger, Dietmar Keiper, Anna Katharina Haab
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Patent number: 10294562Abstract: Described herein is an exhaust manifold (1) comprising suction opening (2), a gas extraction chamber (3), an intermediate space (9), a gas collection chamber (5) and a suction line (4). A flow-impeding structure may be present within the intermediate space (9). The flow impeding structure may exert a flow resistance on the gas flow which is greater in a central zone (Z) than in edge zones (R) of the intermediate space (9), causing gas to flow into the suction opening (2) at a substantially uniform gas flow speed across the cross section of the suction opening (2).Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Carl Galewski, Stephen Edward Savas, Merim Mukinovic
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Patent number: 10273580Abstract: A device includes at least a first electrically conductive contact plate, at least a second electrically conductive contact plate and a plurality of heating elements connected electrically in parallel. Each of the plurality of heating elements includes at least one resistance heating unit, respectively. Each of the heating elements is connected by means of a first connecting contact to the heating elements is connected by means of a first connecting contact to the first contact plate and by means of a second connecting contact to the second contact plate, in which both contact plates lie in a common first plane. The resistance heating units are arranged along a spiral or arched line around a center of the device. To expand the service life of the device at reduced manufacturing costs, a plurality of heating units are arranged consecutively or nested with each other along the ached or spiral line, and both the first and second contact plates comprise interlocking comb-like contact extensions.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2014Date of Patent: April 30, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Pierre-Arnaud Bodin, Mark Edlef Oppen, Keith Allen, Hugo Silva
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Patent number: 10267768Abstract: A device and a method determines the concentration of a vapor in a volume, in particular for determining or controlling the mass flow of the vapor being conveyed through the volume by a carrier gas. The device comprises a sensor, which supplies a sensor signal that is dependent on the concentration or partial pressure of the vapor. The sensor has an oscillatory body that can be brought to oscillation, the oscillation frequency of which is influenced by a mass accumulation formed on a surface of the oscillating body by the condensed vapor. The oscillating body has a temperature control unit, by means of which the oscillating body can be brought to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the vapor. An evaluation unit determines the concentration or the partial pressure of the vapor from the temporal change of the oscillator frequency.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Birgit Irmgard Beccard, Claudia Cremer, Karl-Heinz Trimborn, Michael Long, Andy Eichler, Nael Al Ahmad
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Patent number: 10260147Abstract: A device is provided for depositing carbonaceous structures, for example layers in the form of nanotubes or graphene on a substrate, which is supported by a substrate support disposed in a process chamber housing. A process gas can be delivered onto the substrate through gas outlet openings of a gas inlet element disposed in the process chamber housing. The process chamber housing has two opposing walls which each have holding recesses. At least one plate-shaped component is disposed in the process chamber housing. The plate-shaped component has two edge portions directed away from one another that each are inserted respectively in the holding recess of one of the two opposing walls.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Alexandre Jouvray, David Eric Rippington, Kenneth B. K. Teo, Nalin L. Rupesinghe
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Patent number: 10221482Abstract: A gas distributor for a CVD reactor includes two separate gas distribution chambers, into each of which a process gas can be fed through an infeed opening. Each of the gas distribution chambers is formed, in part, by a gas distribution device disposed in a top layer being in each case flow-connected to connecting channels disposed in a bottom layer. The connecting channels associated with different gas distribution chambers lie alternately adjacent to one another and have gas outlet openings for the process gases to escape. Each of the at least two gas distribution devices has a distribution section, which in each case is flow-connected to a plurality of sub-distribution sections. The connecting channels are flow-connected to at least one of the sub-distribution sections. The sub-distribution sections of different gas distribution chambers lie alternately adjacent to one another and are separated from one another by a dividing wall.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Thomas Krücken, Baskar Pagadala Gopi, Martin Dauelsberg
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Patent number: 10096473Abstract: Described herein are techniques for forming an epitaxial III-V layer on a substrate. In a pre-clean chamber, a native oxygen layer may be replaced with a passivation layer by treating the substrate with a hydrogen plasma (or products of a plasma decomposition). In a deposition chamber, the temperature of the substrate may be elevated to a temperature less than 700° C. While the substrate temperature is elevated, a group V precursor may be flowed into the deposition chamber in order to transform the hydrogen terminated (Si—H) surface of the passivation layer into an Arsenic terminated (Si—As) surface. After the substrate has been cooled, a group III precursor and the group V precursor may be flowed in order to form a nucleation layer. Finally, at an elevated temperature, the group III precursor and group V precursor may be flowed in order to form a bulk III-V layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2016Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Maxim Kelman, Zhongyuan Jia, Somnath Nag, Robert Ditizio
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Patent number: 10060022Abstract: In a method and a device for generating vapor for a CVD or PVD device, liquid or solid particles of a first source material are fed into a first heat transfer body via a first feed line. The first heat transfer body vaporizes the particles into a first vapor, which is transported by a carrier gas from the first heat transfer body into a second heat transfer body arranged after the first heat transfer body. The first heat transfer body is heated to a first temperature, and the second heat transfer body is heated to a second temperature. Liquid or solid particles of a second source material are fed into a second heat transfer body via a second feed line. The second heat transfer body vaporizes the particles into a second vapor, which is transported along with the first vapor out of the second heat transfer body by the carrier gas.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2015Date of Patent: August 28, 2018Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventor: Michael Long
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Patent number: 10049859Abstract: Apparatus and method for plasma-based processing well suited for deposition, etching, or treatment of semiconductor, conductor or insulating films. Plasma generating units include one or more elongated electrodes on the processing side of a substrate and a neutral electrode proximate the opposite side of the substrate. Gases may be injected proximate a powered electrode which break down electrically and produce activated species that flow toward the substrate area. This gas then flows into an extended process region between powered electrodes and substrate, providing controlled and continuous reactivity with the substrate at high rates with efficient utilization of reactant feedstock. Gases are exhausted via passages between powered electrodes or electrode and divider.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2010Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: Aixtron SEInventors: Stephen Edward Savas, Carl Galewski, Allan B. Wiesnoski, Sai Mantripragada, Sooyun Joh
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Patent number: 9988712Abstract: A device for holding at least one substrate in a process chamber of a CVD or PVD reactor includes a flat upper side on which at least one bearing area for the at least one substrate is located. An outline contour line corresponding to the outline contour of the substrate is flanked by positioning edges for positioning a respective section of an edge of the substrate. The device further includes carrying protrusions projecting from a bearing area base surface of the bearing area that is surrounded by the outline contour line. The carrying protrusions have contact surfaces that are raised in relation to the bearing area base surface, on which contact surfaces the substrate can be placed. In order to improve the temperature homogeneity of the surface of the substrate, each of the carrying protrusions originate from a recess of the bearing area base surface.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Eduardo Osman Piniero Sufan, Daniel Claessens, Adam Boyd
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Patent number: 9970106Abstract: The invention relates to a device for coating substrates in a process chamber (8) of a reactor housing (1), having a gas inlet member (11) for introducing process gases into the process chamber (8), having a gas outlet member (10) for discharging an exhaust gas stream from the process chamber (8) into a particle filter (4), which is disposed in a particle separator housing (3) and has a porous filter medium (16) for out-filtering particles from the exhaust gas stream, which form during a reaction of the process gases.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2014Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Wilfried Goeres, Peer Lehnen, Heinrich Mallmann
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Patent number: 9942946Abstract: In a device for generating a vapor for a CVD or PVD apparatus, at least two thermal transfer bodies are arranged successively in the direction of flow of a carrier gas. The device also includes an inlet pipe for feeding an aerosol to one of the thermal transfer bodies for vaporization of the aerosol by bringing the aerosol particles into contact with thermal transfer surfaces of the thermal transfer body. At least one of the thermal transfer bodies has an opening for an inlet pipe that has a first flow channel for feeding the aerosol in and a second flow channel for feeding a carrier gas in. Gas passage openings are provided through which the carrier gas flows out of the second flow channel into the first flow channel. The second flow channel is sealed in the area of the mouth of the inlet pipe.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2015Date of Patent: April 10, 2018Assignee: AIXTRON SEInventors: Michael Long, Andreas Poqué, Claudia Cremer, Birgit Irmgard Beccard, Karl-Heinz Trimborn