Patents Assigned to Applied Materials
  • Patent number: 11556117
    Abstract: A method of detecting and classifying anomalies during semiconductor processing includes executing a wafer recipe a semiconductor processing system to process a semiconductor wafer; monitoring sensor outputs from a sensors that monitor conditions associated with the semiconductor processing system; providing the sensor outputs to models trained to identify when the conditions associated with the semiconductor processing system indicate a fault in the semiconductor wafer; receiving an indication of a fault from at least one of the models; and generating a fault output in response to receiving the indication of the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shahab Arabshahi, Michael Nichols
  • Patent number: 11557509
    Abstract: A method for etching a metal containing feature is provided. Using a pattern mask, layers of material are etched to expose a portion of a metal containing feature. At least a portion of the exposed metal containing feature is etched, and is replaced by the growth of a filler dielectric. The etched portion of the metal containing feature and the filler dielectric reduce the unwanted conductivity between adjacent metal containing features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Suketu Arun Parikh
  • Patent number: 11557496
    Abstract: A cassette with embedded temperature sensors that is disposed within a load lock is disclosed. The temperature sensors may be disposed in a plurality of shelves of the load lock cassette to monitor the temperature of each of a plurality of workpieces disposed in the load lock. The output of these temperature sensors may be provided to a controller, which controls when the load lock is opened. The load lock cassette may also include cooling channels to accelerate the cooling of the workpieces to improve throughput. The cooling may be controlled using closed loop control, where a controller monitors the temperature of the workpieces during the cooling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Blanchard, Steven M. Anella, Brant S. Binns, Jordan B. Tye, D. Jeffrey Lischer
  • Patent number: 11557466
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide magnetic and electromagnetic housing systems and a method for controlling the properties of plasma generated in a process volume of a process chamber to affect deposition properties of a film. In one embodiment, the method includes rotation of the rotational magnetic housing about a center axis of the process volume to create dynamic magnetic fields. The magnetic fields modify the shape of the plasma, concentration of ions and radicals, and movement of concentration of ions and radicals to control the density profile of the plasma. Controlling the density profile of the plasma tunes the uniformity and properties of a deposited or etched film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel E. Gottheim, Abhijit B. Mallick, Pramit Manna, Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Timothy Joseph Franklin, Edward Haywood, Stephen C. Garner, Adam Fischbach
  • Patent number: 11557473
    Abstract: A physical vapor deposition chamber comprising a tilting substrate support is described. Methods of processing a substrate are also provided comprising tilting at least one of the substrate and the target to improve the uniformity of the layer on the substrate from the center of the substrate to the edge of the substrate. Process controllers are also described which comprise one or more process configurations causing the physical deposition chamber to perform the operations of rotating a substrate support within the physical deposition chamber and tilting the substrate support at a plurality of angles with respect to a horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Xiao, Vibhu Jindal, Sanjay Bhat
  • Patent number: 11557501
    Abstract: Susceptor assemblies comprising a susceptor base and a plurality of pie-shaped skins thereon are described. A pie anchor can be positioned in the center of the susceptor base to hold the pie-shaped skins in place during processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaushal Gangakhedkar, Kallol Bera, Joseph Yudovsky
  • Patent number: 11557478
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to techniques for deposition of high-density films for patterning applications. In one embodiment, a method of processing a substrate is provided. The method includes depositing a carbon hardmask over a film stack formed on a substrate, wherein the substrate is positioned on an electrostatic chuck disposed in a process chamber, implanting ions into the carbon hardmask, wherein depositing the carbon hardmask and implanting ions into the carbon hardmask are performed in the same process chamber, and repeating depositing the carbon hardmask and implanting ions into the carbon hardmask in a cyclic fashion until a pre-determined thickness of the carbon hardmask is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Eswaranand Venkatasubramanian, Pramit Manna, Abhijit B. Mallick, Srinivas Gandikota
  • Patent number: 11557464
    Abstract: Systems and methods may be used to produce coated components. Exemplary semiconductor chamber components may include an aluminum alloy comprising nickel and may be characterized by a surface. The surface may include a corrosion resistant coating. The corrosion resistant coating may include a conformal layer and a non-metal layer. The conformal layer may extend about the semiconductor chamber component. The non-metal oxide layer may extend over a surface of the conformal layer. The non-metal oxide layer may be characterized by an amorphous microstructure having a hardness of from about 300 HV to about 10,000 HV. The non-metal oxide layer may also be characterized by an sp2 to sp3 hybridization ratio of from about 0.01 to about 0.5 and a hydrogen content of from about 1 wt. % to about 35 wt. %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Laksheswar Kalita, Son Nguyen, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Kenneth D. Schatz
  • Patent number: 11555250
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a metal component including a raw surface that includes a metal base, a first native oxide disposed on the metal base, and hydrocarbons disposed on the metal base. The method further includes machining the raw surface of the metal component to remove the first native oxide and a first portion of the hydrocarbons from the metal base. The machining generates an as-machined surface of the metal component including the metal base without the first native oxide and without the first portion of the hydrocarbons. The method further includes performing a surface machining of the as-machined surface of the metal component to remove a second portion of the hydrocarbons. The method further includes surface treating the metal component to remove a third portion of the hydrocarbons. The method further includes performing a cleaning of the metal component and drying the metal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuanhong Guo, Sheng Michael Guo, Marek W Radko, Steven Victor Sansoni, Nagendra Madiwal, Matvey Farber, Pingping Gou, Song-Moon Suh, Jeffrey C. Hudgens, Yuji Murayama, Anurag Bansal, Shaofeng Chen, Michael Kuchar
  • Patent number: 11556053
    Abstract: Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask blanks, methods for their manufacture and production systems therefor are disclosed. The EUV mask blanks comprise a substrate; a multilayer stack of reflective layers on the substrate; a capping layer on the multilayer stack of reflecting layers; an absorber layer on the capping layer, the absorber layer comprising an antimony-containing material; and a hard mask layer on the absorber layer, the hard mask layer comprising a hard mask material selected from the group consisting of CrO, CrON, TaNi, TaRu and TaCu.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuwei Liu, Wen Xiao, Vibhu Jindal, Azeddine Zerrade
  • Patent number: 11557048
    Abstract: A system for obtaining a measurement representative of a thickness of a layer on a substrate includes a support to hold a substrate, an optical assembly to capture two color images with light impinging the substrate at different angles of incidence, and a controller. The controller is configured to store a function that provides a value representative of a thickness as a function of position along a predetermined path in a coordinate space of at least four dimensions. For a pixel in the two color images, the controller determines a coordinate in the coordinate space from the color data, determines a position of a point on the predetermined path that is closest to the coordinate, and calculates a value representative of a thickness from the function and the position of the point on the predetermined path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic J. Benvegnu, Boguslaw A. Swedek
  • Patent number: 11557515
    Abstract: Disclosed are approaches for forming a semiconductor device. In some embodiments, a method may include providing a plurality of patterning structures over a device layer, each of the plurality of patterning structures including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and an upper surface, and forming a mask by depositing a masking material at a non-zero angle of inclination relative to a perpendicular to a plane defined by a top surface of the device layer. The mask may be formed over the plurality of patterning structures without being formed along the second sidewall. The method may further include selectively forming a metal layer along the second sidewall of each of the plurality of patterning structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Sony Varghese
  • Patent number: 11557500
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a heated support pedestal including a body comprising a ceramic material, a support arm extending radially outward from a periphery of the body that is coupled to a shaft, and a vacuum conduit disposed within the shaft and through the body to connect with a surface of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijay D. Parkhe
  • Publication number: 20230011261
    Abstract: Exemplary substrate support assemblies may include an electrostatic chuck body defining a substrate support surface that defines a substrate seat. The substrate support assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the electrostatic chuck body. The substrate support assemblies may include an upper heater embedded within the electrostatic chuck body. The upper heater may include a center heater zone and one or more annular heater zones that are concentric with the center heating zone. The substrate support assemblies may include a lower heater embedded within the electrostatic chuck body at a position below the upper heater. The lower heater may include a plurality of arcuate heater zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian Li, Edward P. Hammond, Vidyadharan Srinivasamurthy, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez
  • Publication number: 20230010978
    Abstract: Exemplary etching methods may include flowing an oxygen-containing precursor into a processing region of a semiconductor processing chamber. The methods may include contacting a substrate housed in the processing region with the oxygen-containing precursor. The substrate may include an exposed region of a transition metal nitride and an exposed region of a metal. The contacting may form an oxidized portion of the transition metal nitride and an oxidized portion of the metal. The methods may include forming a plasma of a fluorine-containing precursor and a hydrogen-containing precursor to produce fluorine-containing plasma effluents. The methods may include removing the oxidized portion of the transition metal nitride to expose a non-oxidized portion of the transition metal nitride. The methods may include forming a plasma of a chlorine-containing precursor to produce chlorine-containing plasma effluents. The methods may include removing the non-oxidized portion of the transition metal nitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Baiwei Wang, Xiaolin C. Chen, Rohan Puligoru Reddy, Oliver Jan, Zhenjiang Cui, Anchuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20230008922
    Abstract: Exemplary substrate support assemblies may include a chuck body defining a substrate support surface. The substrate support surface may define a plurality of protrusions that extend upward from the substrate support surface. The substrate support surface may define an annular groove and/or ridge. A subset of the plurality of protrusions may be disposed within the annular groove and/or ridge. The substrate support assemblies may include a support stem coupled with the chuck body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Saketh Pemmasani, Akshay Dhanakshirur, Mayur Govind Kulkarni, Madhu Santosh Kumar Mutyala, Hang Yu, Deenesh Padhi
  • Publication number: 20230008986
    Abstract: Gas injector with a vacuum channel having an inlet opening in the front face and an outlet opening in the back face of the injector are described. The vacuum channel comprises a first leg extending a first length from the inlet opening in the front face at a first angle relative to the front face and a second leg extending a second length from the first leg to the outlet opening in the back face at a second angle relative to the front face. Processing chambers and methods of use comprising a plurality of processing regions bounded around an outer peripheral edge by one or more vacuum channel. A first processing region has a first vacuum channel with a first outer diameter and a second processing region has a second vacuum channel with a second outer diameter, the first outer diameter being less than the second outer diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Prahallad Iyengar, Sanjeev Baluja, Kartik Shah, Chaowei Wang, Janisht Golcha, Eric J. Hoffmann, Joseph AuBuchon, Ashutosh Agarwal, Lin Sun, Cong Trinh
  • Publication number: 20230009222
    Abstract: A method for controlling noise on an electronic device may include determining that a measured characteristic, associated with an antenna in a first configuration and included on the electronic device, violates a predetermined threshold. The method may also include identifying an aggressor in a second configuration, which may be a component on the electronic device. The aggressor may emit electromagnetic (EM) radiation that causes the measured characteristic to violate the predetermined threshold. One or more stimuli may be determined based on the first and/or second configurations that would cause the measured characteristic to no longer violate the predetermined threshold. One or more stimuli may be applied to the antenna and/or the aggressor, causing the measured characteristic to no longer violate the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Mudit Sunilkumar Khasgiwala, Subramani Kengeri
  • Publication number: 20230011938
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a chamber body. The chambers may include a substrate support disposed within the chamber body. The substrate support may define a substrate support surface. The chambers may include a showerhead positioned supported atop the chamber body. The substrate support and a bottom surface of the showerhead may at least partially define a processing region within the semiconductor processing chamber. The showerhead may define a plurality of apertures through the showerhead. The bottom surface of the showerhead may define an annular groove or ridge that is positioned directly above at least a portion of the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Saketh Pemmasani, Daemian Raj Benjamin Raj, Xiaopu Li, Akshay Dhanakshirur, Mayur Govind Kulkarni, Madhu Santosh Kumar Mutyala, Deenesh Padhi, Hang Yu
  • Publication number: 20230008695
    Abstract: Exemplary integrated cluster tools may include a factory interface including a first transfer robot. The tools may include a wet clean system coupled with the factory interface at a first side of the wet clean system. The tools may include a load lock chamber coupled with the wet clean system at a second side of the wet clean system opposite the first side of the wet clean system. The tools may include a first transfer chamber coupled with the load lock chamber. The first transfer chamber may include a second transfer robot. The tools may include a dry etch chamber coupled with the first transfer chamber. The tools may include a second transfer chamber coupled with the first transfer chamber. The second transfer chamber may include a third transfer robot. The tools may include a process chamber coupled with the second transfer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Publication date: January 12, 2023
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian K. Kirkpatrick, Uday Mitra