Patents Assigned to Applied Material
  • Publication number: 20230089089
    Abstract: Methods for aligning a processing chamber using a centering ring and processing chambers having the centering ring are describes. The method includes determining an average central position for the centering ring based on the concentricity of the centering with the support surfaces and adjusting average position of centering ring to a final position based on the average central position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwok Feng Wong, Rakesh Ramadas, Ashutosh Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20230090426
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include providing a silicon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include forming a plasma of the silicon-containing precursor in the processing region and forming a first layer of material on the substrate. The first layer of material may include silicon oxide. The methods may include providing a germanium-containing precursor to the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber and forming a plasma of the germanium-containing precursor in the processing region. Forming the plasma of the germanium-containing precursor may be performed at a plasma power of greater than or about 500 W. The methods may include forming a second layer of material on the substrate. The second layer of material may include germanium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Sieun Chae, Susmit Singha Roy, Abhijit Basu Mallick
  • Publication number: 20230093478
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a chamber body. The chambers may include a showerhead. The chambers may include a substrate support. The substrate support may include a platen characterized by a first surface facing the showerhead. The substrate support may include a shaft coupled with the platen along a second surface of the platen opposite the first surface of the platen. The shaft may extend at least partially through the chamber body. A coating may extend conformally about the first surface of the platen, the second surface of the platen, and about the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Laksheswar Kalita
  • Publication number: 20230090196
    Abstract: Methods for the formation of films comprising Si, C, O and N are provided. Certain methods involve sequential exposures of a hydroxide terminated substrate surface to a silicon precursor and an alcohol-amine to form a film with hydroxide terminations. Certain methods involved sequential exposures of hydroxide terminated substrate surface to a silicon precursor and a diamine to form a film with an amine terminated surface, followed by sequential exposures to a silicon precursor and a diol to form a film with a hydroxide terminated surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Jyoti Bhuyan, Mark Saly
  • Publication number: 20230088552
    Abstract: Magnet assemblies comprising a housing with a top plate each comprising aligned openings are described. The housing has a bottom ring and an annular wall with a plurality of openings formed in the bottom ring. The top plate is on the housing and has a plurality of openings aligned with the plurality of openings in the bottom ring of the housing. The magnet assembly may also include a non-conducting base plate and/or a conductive cover plate. Methods for using the magnet assembly and magnetic field tuning are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Borui Xia, Anthony Chih-Tung Chan, Shiyu Yue, Wei Lei, Aravind Miyar Kamath, Mukund Sundararajan, Rongjun Wang, Adolph Miller Allen
  • Publication number: 20230090280
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include providing a carbon-containing precursor to a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. A substrate may be disposed within the processing region of the semiconductor processing chamber. The substrate may include a low dielectric constant material defining one or more features, a liner extending across the low dielectric constant material and within the one or more features, and a metal-containing layer deposited on the liner and extending within the one or more features. The methods may include forming a layer of material on at least a portion of the liner and the metal-containing layer. The layer of material may include graphene. The methods may include removing substantially all of the portion of the layer of material on the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Supriya Ghosh, Susmit Singha Roy, Abhijit Basu Mallick
  • Publication number: 20230087442
    Abstract: A method may include providing an array of patterned features on a substrate, the array of patterned features characterized by a spacing. The method may include directing a sputtering species in a first exposure to the array of patterned features, wherein an upper portion of a patterned feature of the array of patterned features forms a protrusion, extending towards an adjacent patterned feature, of the array of patterned features. The method may also include directing a depositing species in a second exposure to the array of patterned features, wherein an array of voids is formed between adjacent patterned features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hautala, Charith Nanayakkara
  • Publication number: 20230093330
    Abstract: Methods of forming 3D NAND devices are discussed. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with increased cell density. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with decreased vertical and/or later pitch between cells. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with smaller CD memory holes. Some embodiments form 3D NAND devices with silicon layer between alternating oxide and nitride materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Kwon, Xinhai Han
  • Publication number: 20230090954
    Abstract: Provided here are methods and manufacturing systems to implant protons into SiC IGBT devices at multiple depths in the drift layer of the SiC IGBT device. Provides are SiC IGBT devices manufactured with process steps including multiple proton implant processes where the SiC IGBT device is irradiated with ion to affect proton implantation into the SiC IGBT device at multiple depths in the drift region to reduced minority carrier lifetime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Qintao Zhang, Wei Zou
  • Patent number: 11610954
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a device including a substrate, a plurality of adjacent pixel-defining layer (PDL) structures disposed over the substrate, and a plurality of sub-pixels. Each sub-pixel includes adjacent first overhangs, adjacent second overhangs, an anode, a hole injection layer (HIL) material, an additional organic light emitting diode (OLED) material, and a cathode. Each first overhang is defined by a body structure disposed over and extending laterally past a base structure disposed over the PDL structure. Each second overhang is defined by a top structure disposed over and extending laterally past the body structure. The HIL material is disposed over and in contact with the anode and disposed under the adjacent first overhangs. The additional OLED material is disposed over the HIL material and extends under the first overhang.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Hsin Lin, Ji-Young Choung, Chung-Chia Chen, Jungmin Lee, Wen-Hao Wu, Takashi Anjiki, Takuji Kato, Dieter Haas, Si Kyoung Kim, Stefan Keller
  • Patent number: 11610776
    Abstract: Methods of forming an oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate are provided. The method includes forming a first oxide containing portion of the oxide layer over a semiconductor substrate at a first growth rate by exposing the substrate to a first gas mixture having a first oxygen percentage at a first temperature. A second oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a second growth rate by exposing the substrate to a second gas mixture having a second oxygen percentage at a second temperature. A third oxide containing portion is formed over the substrate at a third growth rate by exposing the substrate to a third gas mixture having a third oxygen percentage at a third temperature. The first growth rate is slower than each subsequent growth rate and each growth rate subsequent to the second growth rate is within 50% of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Olsen, Tobin Kaufman-Osborn
  • Patent number: 11609584
    Abstract: A valve includes a first inline compartment to attach to a first return line exiting a processing chamber and a second inline compartment to attach to a second return line entering a coolant source. A flow compartment is attached between the first inline compartment and the second inline compartment and through which a coolant is to return to the coolant source. A first inlet orifice and a second inlet orifice positioned between the first inline compartment and the flow compartment. A plunger has a tip to variably open and close the second inlet orifice. A shape memory alloy (SMA) spring is positioned on the plunger and attached to the tip, the SMA spring to variably increase or decrease a flow rate of the coolant through the second inlet orifice according to a temperature of the coolant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shivaram Chandrashekar, Kumaresan Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 11610952
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to sub-pixel circuits and methods of forming sub-pixel circuits that may be utilized in a display such as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display. The device includes a plurality of sub-pixels, each sub-pixel of the plurality of sub-pixels defined by adjacent pixel-defining layer (PDL) structures with inorganic overhang structures disposed on the PDL structures, each sub-pixel having an anode, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) material disposed on the anode, and a cathode disposed on the OLED material. The device is made by a process including the steps of: depositing the OLED material and the cathode by evaporation deposition, and depositing an encapsulation layer disposed over the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ji-young Choung, Dieter Haas, Yu Hsin Lin, Jungmin Lee, Seong Ho Yoo, Si Kyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 11609505
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for verification and re-use of process fluids. The apparatus generally includes a tool for performing lithography, and a recirculation path coupled to the tool. The recirculation path generally includes a collection unit coupled at first end to a first end of the tool, and a probe coupled at a first end to a second end of the collection unit, the probe for determining one or more characteristics of a fluid flowing from the tool. The recirculation path of the apparatus further generally includes a purification unit coupled at a first end to a third end of the collection unit, the purification unit further coupled at a second end to a second end of the probe, the purification unit for changing a characteristic of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mangesh Ashok Bangar, Gautam Pisharody, Lancelot Huang, Alan L. Tso, Douglas A. Buchberger, Jr., Huixiong Dai, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Srinivas D. Nemani, Christopher Siu Wing Ngai
  • Patent number: 11610799
    Abstract: In one example, an electrostatic chuck comprises a chuck body having a top surface configured to support a substrate and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The chuck body comprises one or more chucking electrodes, and one or more heating elements. The chuck body further comprises first terminals disposed on the bottom surface of the chuck body and coupled with the one or more heating elements, second terminals disposed on the bottom surface of the chuck body and coupled with the one or more chucking electrodes, and third terminals disposed on the bottom first surface of the chuck body and coupled with the one or more chucking electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Prasad, Kirankumar Neelasandra Savandaiah, Srinivasa Rao Yedla, Nitin Bharadwaj Satyavolu, Hari Prasath Rajendran, Lakshmikanth Krishnamurthy Shirahatti, Thomas Brezoczky
  • Patent number: 11610076
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, from sensors, current trace data including current sensor values associated with producing products. The method further includes processing the current trace data to identify features of the current trace data and providing the features of the current trace data as input to a trained machine learning model that uses a hyperplane limit for product classification. The method further includes obtaining, from the trained machine learning model, outputs indicative of predictive data associated with the hyperplane limit and processing the predictive data and the hyperplane limit to determine: first products associated with a first product classification and second products associated with a second product classification based exclusively on the subset of the plurality of features; and third products associated with the first product classification or the second product classification based on an additional feature not within the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jimmy Iskandar, James Robert Moyne
  • Patent number: 11610773
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a high pressure processing system with a condenser and methods for utilizing the same. The processing system includes a process chamber, a boiler, a condenser, and one or more heat exchangers. The boiler generates a fluid, such as a vapor or supercritical fluid, and delivers the fluid to the process chamber where a substrate is processed. After processing the substrate, the system is depressurized and the fluid is delivered to the condenser where the fluid is condensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Jean Delmas
  • Patent number: 11610755
    Abstract: A method of automatically focusing a charged particle beam on a surface region of a sample is provided. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images for a corresponding plurality of focusing strength values; calculating a plurality of sharpness values based on the plurality of images, the plurality of sharpness values are calculated with a sharpness function provided as a sum in a frequency space based on the plurality of images; and determining subsequent focusing strength values of the plurality of focusing strength values with a golden ratio search algorithm based one the calculated sharpness values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Trauner, Bernhard Schüler, Bernhard G. Mueller, Nikolai Knaub, Kulpreet Singh Virdi
  • Patent number: 11610925
    Abstract: An imaging system and a method of creating composite images are provided. The imaging system includes one or more lens assemblies coupled to a sensor. When reflected light from an object enters the imaging system, incident light on the metalens filter systems creates filtered light, which is turned into composite images by the corresponding sensors. Each metalens filter system focuses the light into a specific wavelength, creating the metalens images. The metalens images are sent to the processor, wherein the processor combines the metalens images into one or more composite images. The metalens images are combined into a composite image, and the composite image has reduced chromatic aberrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinxin Fu, Yongan Xu, Ludovic Godet, Naamah Argaman, Robert Jan Visser
  • Patent number: 11610796
    Abstract: A system includes an equipment front end module chamber, alignment pedestals housed within the equipment front end module chamber, and a load/unload robot at least partially housed within the equipment front end module chamber. The alignment pedestals include a first alignment pedestal having a first support surface and a second alignment pedestal having a second support surface, and the first support surface has a vertical offset and an overlap region having at least a partial overlap relative to the second support surface. The load/unload robot includes an arm, and vertically arranged blades attached to the arm. The vertically arranged blades include an upper blade configured to transfer a first substrate to the first alignment pedestal and a lower blade configured to transfer a second substrate to the second alignment pedestal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Michael Bergantz