Patents Assigned to Applied Material Inc.
  • Patent number: 12209307
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a rare-earth oxide coating on a surface of an article with one or more interruption layers to control crystal growth and methods of its formation. The coating may be deposited by atomic layer deposition and/or by chemical vapor deposition. The rare-earth oxides in the coatings disclosed herein may have an atomic crystalline phase that is different from the atomic crystalline phase or the amorphous phase of the one or more interruption layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 12211673
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing systems may include a chamber body including sidewalls and a base. The system may include a substrate support extending through the base of the chamber body. The chamber body may define an access circumferentially extending about the substrate support at the base of the chamber body. The system may include one or more isolators disposed within the chamber body. The one or more isolators may define an exhaust path between the one or more isolators and the chamber body. The exhaust path may extend to the base of the chamber body. The systems may include a fluid source fluidly coupled with the chamber body at the access extending about the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sarah Michelle Bobek, Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Sungwon Ha, Kwangduk Douglas Lee
  • Patent number: 12211677
    Abstract: A system and method including a processing device. The processing device receives data including one or more plasma exposure durations of a plasma process. The plasma exposure duration are associated with a set of controlled elements. The processing device causes a each set of controlled elements to switch between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. Each set of controlled elements expose appropriate portion of a substrate to the plasma related fluxes. The first set of controlled elements process the substrate at an increased rate while operating in the first mode of operation relative to the second mode of operation. The processing device causes each set of controlled elements to operate in the first mode of operation for the appropriate time duration based on the received plasma exposure duration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Nagorny, Rene George
  • Patent number: 12209663
    Abstract: A sealing member includes a monolithic body including a first portion adjoining a second portion. The first portion forms part of a circle. The second portion includes first and second lobes. Each lobe adjoins the first portion with a concave surface. In one example, each lobe includes a rounded tip, and a convex surface extends from one rounded tip to the other rounded tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao-Hung Yang, Chih-Yang Chang, Sam Hyungsam Kim
  • Patent number: 12211670
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from one or more sensors, sensor data associated with manufacturing equipment and updating one or more values of a digital replica associated with the manufacturing equipment based on the sensor data. The digital replica comprises a model reflecting a virtual representation of physical elements and dynamics of how the manufacturing equipment operates. One or more outputs indicative of predictive data is obtained from the digital replica and, based on the predictive data, performance of one or more corrective actions associated with the manufacturing equipment is caused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Zhang, Upendra Ummethala
  • Patent number: 12211728
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to one or more implementations of a substrate support for a processing chamber. In one implementation, a substrate support includes a body having a center, and a support surface on the body configured to at least partially support a substrate. The substrate support includes a first angled wall that extends upward and radially outward from the support surface, and a first upper surface disposed above the support surface. The substrate support also includes a second angled wall that extends upward and radially outward from the first upper surface, the first upper surface extending between the first angled wall and the second angled wall. The substrate support also includes a second upper surface extending from the second angled wall. The second upper surface is disposed above the first upper surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdul Aziz Khaja, Venkata Sharat Chandra Parimi, Sarah Michelle Bobek, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Vinay K. Prabhakar
  • Patent number: 12209325
    Abstract: The present technology includes methods for rinsing an electroplating apparatus, a component thereof, and/or a substrate. The method includes removing at least a portion of a bath solution having a first pH from an electroplating bath. The method includes filtering the removed bath solution through a nanofiltration membrane, forming a permeating containing a recycled rinse agent, and a retentate. The method includes transferring the recycled rinse agent to the one or more nozzles and rinsing the electroplating apparatus, component thereof, and/or substrate. The method includes where the recycled rinse agent is characterized by a second pH, where the second pH varies from the first pH by less than or about 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: John L. Klocke
  • Patent number: 12211947
    Abstract: A method includes forming, on a substrate by performing physical vapor deposition in vacuum, an absorber layer including copper (Cu), indium (In), gallium (Ga) and selenium (Se), forming a stack including the substrate and an oxygen-annealed absorber layer by performing in-situ oxygen annealing of the absorber layer to improve quantum efficiency of the image sensor by passivating selenium vacancies due to dangling bonds, and forming a cap layer over the oxygen-annealed absorber layer by performing physical vapor deposition in vacuum. The cap layer includes at least one of: Ga2O3·Sn, ZnS, CdS, CdSe, ZnO, ZnSe, ZnIn2Se4, CuGaS2, In2S3, MgO, or Zn0.8Mg0.2O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Hsin-hua Li, Seshadri Ramaswami
  • Patent number: 12208637
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to optical devices. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to optical devices and methods of manufacturing a patterned optical device film on an optical device substrate. According to certain embodiments, an inkjet deposition process is used to deposit a patterned inkjet coating layer on the optical device substrate. A deposition process may then be used to deposit an optical device material on the patterned inkjet coating and the optical device substrate. The patterned inkjet coating on the optical device substrate may then be washed with an appropriate detergent to lift-off the patterned inkjet coating layer from the optical device substrate to form the patterned optical device film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yingdong Luo, Jinyu Lu, Takashi Kuratomi, Alexia Adilene Portillo Rivera, Xiaopei Deng, Zhengping Yao, Daihua Zhang, Rami Hourani, Ludovic Godet
  • Patent number: 12211714
    Abstract: A mainframe of a device fabrication system comprises a base and a plurality of facets on the base. Each facet of the plurality of facets comprises a frame. The mainframe further comprises a plurality of replaceable interface plates. Each replaceable interface plate of the plurality of replaceable interface plates is attached to a respective facet such that at most one replaceable interface plate is attached to each facet. At least one replaceable interface plate comprises one or more access ports. The mainframe further comprises a lid over the plurality of facets. The base, the lid and the plurality of facets with the attached plurality of replaceable interface plates together define an interior volume of the mainframe. The mainframe further comprises a robot arm in the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 12211717
    Abstract: A method includes identifying first structure data of a first region of a substrate and receiving optical metrology data of the substrate associated with one or more substrate deposition processes in a processing chamber. The method further includes determining, based on the optical metrology data and the first structure data, a first growth rate of the first region of the substrate associated with the one or more substrate deposition processes. The method further includes predicting, based on the optical metrology data and the first growth rate, thickness data of a second region of the substrate without second structure data of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Chin Hong Ng, Edward Wibowo Budiarto, Mehdi Vaez-Iravani, Todd Jonathan Egan, Venkatakaushik Voleti
  • Patent number: 12211693
    Abstract: A method for forming a metal containing feature includes performing a deposition process, the deposition process comprising conformally depositing an over layer on top surfaces of a patterned mandrel layer and over a spacer layer on sidewalls of the patterned mandrel layer, and performing an etch process, the etch process comprising removing the over layer from the top surfaces of the patterned mandrel layer and shoulder portions of the spacer layer, and removing the shoulder portions of the spacer layer, using a fluorine containing etching gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Li, Gene Lee
  • Publication number: 20250029816
    Abstract: Gas distribution assemblies for a semiconductor manufacturing processing chamber comprising a first showerhead with a first flange and a second showerhead with a second flange. A first two-piece RF isolator comprises a first inner RF isolator spaced from a first outer RF isolator. The first inner RF isolator spaced from the first flange of the first showerhead to create a first flow path. A second two-piece RF isolator comprises a second inner RF isolator spaced from a second outer RF isolator. The second RF isolator spaced from the second flange of the second showerhead to create a second flow path. Processing chambers incorporating the gas distribution assemblies, and processing methods using the gas distribution assemblies are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Long, Vinod Kumar Konda Purathe, Dien-Yeh Wu, Jallepally Ravi, Hideaki Goto, Manjunatha Koppa, Hiroyuki Takahama, Shih Yao Hsu, Sandesh Yadamane Dharmaiah
  • Publication number: 20250029849
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a chamber body. The chambers may include a substrate support within the chamber body. The substrate support may define a substrate support surface. The chambers may include a faceplate supported atop the chamber body. The substrate support and a bottom surface of the faceplate may at least partially define a processing region. The bottom surface of the faceplate may define an annular protrusion that is directly above at least a portion of a radially outer 10% of the substrate support surface and an annular groove that is positioned radially outward of the annular protrusion. At least a portion of the annular groove may extend radially outward beyond the substrate support surface. The faceplate may define apertures through the faceplate. A first subset of the apertures may extend through the annular protrusion and a second subset of the apertures may extend through the annular groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Anish Janakiraman, Mayur Govind Kulkarni, Deenesh Padhi
  • Publication number: 20250027199
    Abstract: Ampoules including a solid volume of the semiconductor chemical precursor and methods of use and manufacturing are described. The solid volume of the semiconductor chemical precursor includes an ingress opening, at least one flow channel, and an outlet passage that are in fluid communication with each other. The solid volume of the semiconductor manufacturing precursor is made of a porous or alternatively a non-porous material. A flow path is defined by at least one flow channel through which a carrier gas flows in contact with the solid volume of the semiconductor chemical precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: David Marquardt
  • Publication number: 20250029841
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include providing a pre-treatment precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A first layer of silicon-and-germanium-containing material and a second layer of silicon-and-germanium-containing material may be disposed on a substrate housed within the processing region. A native oxide may be present on the first layer and the second layer. The methods may include contacting the substrate with the pre-treatment precursor to remove the native oxide. The methods may include providing an oxygen-containing precursor to the processing region. The methods may include contacting the substrate with the oxygen-containing precursor to oxidize at least a portion of the second layer. The methods may include providing an etchant precursor to the processing region. The methods may include contacting the substrate with the etchant precursor to selectively etch the first layer of silicon-and-germanium-containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2023
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiayin Huang, Zihui Li, Anchuan Wang, Nitin K. Ingle
  • Publication number: 20250029874
    Abstract: Provided are methods of forming vias with decreased resistance by selectively depositing a barrier layer on an insulating layer and not on a metallic surface. Some embodiments of the disclosure utilize a planar hydrocarbon to form a blocking layer on metallic surfaces. Deposition is performed to selectively deposit on the unblocked insulating surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Roey Shaviv, Suketu Arun Parikh, Feng Chen, Lu Chen
  • Publication number: 20250029835
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include performing a treatment operation on a substrate housed within a first processing region of a first semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include providing a nitrogen-containing precursor to the first processing region. The methods may include forming plasma effluents of the nitrogen-containing precursor. The methods may include contacting the substrate with the plasma effluents of the nitrogen-containing precursor. The contacting may nitride a surface of the substrate. The methods may include transferring the substrate from the first processing region of the first semiconductor processing chamber to a second processing region of a second semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include providing one or more deposition precursors to the second processing region. The methods may include contacting the substrate with the one or more deposition precursors. The contacting may deposit a layer of dielectric material on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Ley, Archana Kumar, Michel El Khoury Maroun, Benjamin D. Briggs
  • Patent number: 12203747
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for devices and methods of measuring a pitch P of optical device structures and an orientation angle ? of the optical device structures. One embodiment of the system includes an optical arm coupled to an arm actuator. The optical arm includes a light source. The light source emits a light path operable to be diffracted to the stage. The optical arm further includes a first beam splitter and a second beam splitter positioned in the light path. The first beam splitter directs the light path through a first lens and the second beam splitter directs the light path through a first dove prism and a second lens. The optical arm further includes a first detector operable to detect the light path from the first lens and second detector operable to detect the light path from the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yangyang Sun, Jinxin Fu, Ludovic Godet
  • Patent number: 12203828
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for detecting anomalies in a semiconductor processing system. According to certain embodiments, one or more external sensors are mounted to a sub-fab component, communicating with the processing system via a communication channel different than a communication channel utilized by the sub-fab component and providing extrinsic sensor data that the sub-fab component is not configured to provide. The extrinsic sensor data may be combined with sensor data from a processing tool of the system and/or intrinsic sensor data of the sub-fab component to form virtual sensor data. In the event the virtual data exceeds or falls below a threshold, an intervention or a maintenance signal is dispatched, and in certain embodiments, an intervention or maintenance action is taken by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T. Downey, Hemant P. Mungekar, James L'Heureux, Andreas Neuber, Michael W. Johnson, Joseph A. Van Gompel, Gino Gerardo Crispieri, Tony H. Tong, Maxime Cayer, John L Koenig, Mike M. Huang