Patents Examined by Allan Olsen
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Patent number: 9574110Abstract: A barrier chemical mechanical planarization polishing composition is provided that includes suitable chemical additives. The suitable chemical additives are organic polymer molecules containing ethylene oxide repeating units having the general molecular structure of where n refers to the total numbers of the repeating unit giving the molecular weights of polyethylene oxide ranging from 100,000 to 8,000,000. There is also provided a chemical mechanical polishing method using the barrier chemical mechanical planarization polishing composition.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Maitland Gary Graham, James Allen Schlueter, Xiaobo Shi
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Patent number: 9566620Abstract: An LPCVD apparatus is provided with a processing chamber and a reaction cooling apparatus. The reaction cooling apparatus is placed outside the processing chamber and is configured to generate hydrogen fluoride gas by reaction of hydrogen gas and fluorine gas and to cool the hydrogen fluoride gas. The hydrogen fluoride gas cooled by the reaction cooling apparatus is supplied into the processing chamber as a cleaning gas.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Kenichiro Toratani, Fumiki Aiso, Takashi Nakao, Kazuhei Yoshinaga
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Patent number: 9570272Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes: a reaction chamber; a stage which is disposed inside the reaction chamber and on which a conveyance carrier is mountable; an electrostatic chuck mechanism including an electrode portion that is disposed inside the stage; a support portion which supports the conveyance carrier between a stage-mounted position on the stage and a transfer position that is distant from the stage upward; and an elevation mechanism which elevates and lowers the support portion relative to the stage. In a case in which the conveyance carrier is mounted on the stage by lowering the support portion, the electrostatic chuck mechanism starts applying a voltage to the electrode portion before contact of an outer circumferential portion of a holding sheet which holds the conveyance carrier to the stage.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2016Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Shogo Okita, Atsushi Harikai, Noriyuki Matsubara
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Patent number: 9566686Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing composition for polishing a substrate having a tungsten layer includes a water based liquid carrier, a colloidal silica abrasive dispersed in the liquid carrier and having a permanent positive charge of at least 6 mV, an amine compound in solution in the liquid carrier, and an iron containing accelerator. A method for chemical mechanical polishing a substrate including a tungsten layer includes contacting the substrate with the above described polishing composition, moving the polishing composition relative to the substrate, and abrading the substrate to remove a portion of the tungsten from the substrate and thereby polish the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Cabot Microelectronics CorporationInventors: Steven Grumbine, Jeffrey Dysard, Lin Fu, William Ward, Glenn Whitener
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Patent number: 9561356Abstract: Out-of-plane microneedle manufacturing process comprising the simultaneous creation of a network of microneedles and the creation of a polygonal shaped hat (2) above each microneedle (1) under formation, said process comprising the following steps: providing bridges (3) between the hats (3), maintaining the bridges (3) during the remaining microneedle manufacturing steps, removing the bridges (3), together with the hats (2), when the microneedles (1) are formed.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2016Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Debiotech S.A.Inventors: Astrid Cachemaille, François Cannehan
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Patent number: 9564337Abstract: Provided is a polishing liquid including cerium oxide particles, an organic acid A, a polymer compound B having a carboxyl acid group or a carboxylate group, and water, wherein the organic acid A has at least one group selected from the group consisting of —COOM group, -Ph-OM group, —SO3M group and —PO3M2 group, pKa of the organic acid A is less than 9, a content of the organic acid A is 0.001 to 1 mass % with respect to the total mass of the polishing liquid, and a content of the polymer compound B is 0.01 to 0.50 mass % with respect to the total mass of the polishing liquid, and pH is in the range of 4.0 to 7.0.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: HITACHI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.Inventors: Munehiro Oota, Takaaki Tanaka, Toshio Takizawa, Shigeru Yoshikawa, Takaaki Matsumoto, Takahiro Yoshikawa, Takashi Shinoda
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Patent number: 9561524Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing a structured surface of an embossing tool, in which the entire surface is provided with a first metallic coating and said surface having, in selected regions, at least one additional metallic coating that has a differing degree of lustre. To improve the optical properties of the material boards produced using the embossing tools, particularly if reproducing a wood texture, the invention suggests that additional differing degrees of lustre should be produced in multiple selected regions on the first coating, and be produced by a combination of metallic coatings and mechanical or chemical after-treatments. Therefore, for example, a wood pore with a defined structure can be substantially better reproduced, and the optical and haptic properties of the wood composite board produced using the press plates can thus be improved.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Hueck Rheinische GmbHInventors: Martin Marxen, Wolfgang Stoffel
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Patent number: 9564308Abstract: The embodiments provide apparatus and methods for removal of etch byproducts, dielectric films and metal films near the substrate bevel edge, and chamber interior to avoid the accumulation of polymer byproduct and deposited films and to improve process yield. In an exemplary embodiment, a plasma processing chamber configured to clean a bevel edge of a substrate is provided. The plasma processing chamber includes a substrate support configured to receive the substrate. The plasma processing chamber also includes a bottom edge electrode surrounding the substrate support. The bottom edge electrode and the substrate support are electrically isolated from one another by a bottom dielectric ring. A surface of the bottom edge electrode facing the substrate is covered by a bottom thin dielectric layer. The plasma processing chamber further includes a top edge electrode surrounding a top insulator plate opposing the substrate support. The top edge electrode is electrically grounded.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Gregory S. Sexton, Andrew D. Bailey, III, Andras Kuthi, Yunsang Kim
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Patent number: 9558959Abstract: Stable aqueous polishing compositions that can selectively polish silicon nitride (SiN) films and nearly stop (or polish at very low rates) on silicon oxide films are provided herein. The compositions comprise an anionic abrasive, a nitride removal rate enhancer containing a carboxyl or carboxylate group, water, and optionally, an anionic polymer. The synergistic combination of anionic (negatively charged) abrasives and the nitride removal rate enhancer provide beneficial charge interactions with the dielectric films during CMP, a high SiN rate and selectivity enhancement (over oxide), and stable colloidal dispersed slurries.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: FUJIFILM PLANAR SOLUTIONS, LLCInventors: Abhudaya Mishra, Luling Wang
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Patent number: 9558928Abstract: Method and apparatus for cleaning a substrate having a plurality of high-aspect ratio openings are disclosed. A substrate can be provided in a plasma processing chamber, where the substrate includes the plurality of high-aspect ratio openings, the plurality of high-aspect ratio openings are defined by vertical structures having alternating layers of oxide and nitride or alternating layers of oxide and polysilicon. The substrate can include a silicon oxide layer over a damaged or amorphous silicon layer in the high-aspect ratio openings. To remove the silicon oxide layer, a bias power can be applied in the plasma processing chamber at a low pressure, and a fluorine-based species can be used to etch the silicon oxide layer. To remove the underlying damaged or amorphous silicon layer, a source power and a bias power can be applied in the plasma processing chamber, and a hydrogen-based species can be used to etch the damaged or amorphous silicon layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Bayu Thedjoisworo, Helen Zhu, Linda Marquez, Joon Park
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Patent number: 9558954Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods associated with selective wet etching and textured surface planarization. The systems and methods described herein can be used to etch a component of a multi-layer stack, such as a GaN layer. In some embodiments, the multi-layer stack can include a substrate having a patterned surface and a light generating region. The substrate can be removed from the first multi-layer stack to form a second multi-layer stack. In some embodiments, the pattern on the surface of the substrate can leave behind a pattern on a surface of the second multi-layer stack. Accordingly, in some cases, the surface of the second multi-layer stack can be wet etched, for example, to smoothen the surface. In some embodiments, removing the substrate can expose an N-face of a GaN layer, and the wet etch can be performed such that the N-face of the GaN layer is etched. In some embodiments, the multi-layer stack includes a light generating region and can be part of a light emitting device.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Luminus Devices, Inc.Inventors: Scott W. Duncan, Hong Lu
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Patent number: 9555436Abstract: An upper treatment solution nozzle discharges a treatment solution at a treatment position above a substrate. A reference image and a test image are cut out from an image captured after the upper treatment solution nozzle receives an instruction to start discharging the treatment solution. The test image is an image including an area of a surface of a substrate, in which a liquid flow of the treatment solution from the upper treatment solution nozzle is to be formed. The reference image is an image of an area of the surface of the substrate except for the area in which the liquid flow of the treatment solution from the upper treatment solution nozzle is to be formed. Through the comparison between the reference image and the test image, a discharge of the treatment solution from the upper treatment solution nozzle is determined.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shoji Uemae, Tatsuhiko Kawaguchi
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Patent number: 9551075Abstract: A CMP method uses a slurry including a first metal oxide or semiconductor oxide particles (first oxide particles) in water. At least one particle feature is selected from (i) first oxide particles having a polydispersity >30%, (ii) a coating on first oxide particles including Group I or Group II ions, transition metal oxide, or organic material, (iii) first oxide particles mixed with fumed oxide particles, (iv) first oxide particles with average primary size >50 nm mixed with fumed oxide particles having average primary size <25 nm, and (v) first oxide particles with a per surface area per unit mass <100 m2/gm mixed with another oxide particle type having an average area per unit mass >150 m2/gm. A substrate having an alumina surface is placed into a CMP apparatus, and CMP is performed with a rotating polishing pad and the slurry to polish the alumina surface.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2014Date of Patent: January 24, 2017Assignees: Sinmat, Inc., University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.Inventors: Rajiv K. Singh, Kannan Balasundaram, Arul Chakkaravarthi Arjunan, Deepika Singh, Wei Bai
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Patent number: 9548189Abstract: A substrate etching system includes an etching control module, a filtering module, and an endpoint module. The etching control module selectively begins plasma etching of a substrate within an etching chamber. The filtering module, during the plasma etching of the substrate: receives a signal including endpoint information; decomposes the signal using empirical mode decomposition (EMD); and generates a filtered signal based on results of the EMD. The endpoint module indicates when an endpoint of the plasma etching of the substrate has been reached based on the filtered signal. The etching control module ends the plasma etching of the substrate in response to the indication that the endpoint of the plasma etching of the substrate has been reached.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2015Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Luc Albarede, Yassine Kabouzi, Jorge Luque, Andrew D. Bailey, III
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Patent number: 9514952Abstract: A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes processing a plurality of substrates each provided with an etch target by using a chemical liquid, the chemical liquid used repeatedly and being mixed with water for adjustment of an etch rate.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Hiroyasu Iimori, Takehiro Ogata, Tomohiko Sugita
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Patent number: 9484212Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing method is provided comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises a silicon oxide and a silicon nitride; providing a polishing slurry; providing polishing pad, comprising: a polishing layer having a composition that is a reaction product of ingredients, comprising: a polyfunctional isocyanate and an amine initiated polyol curative; wherein the stoichiometric ratio of the amine initiated polyol curative to the polyfunctional isocyanate is selected to tune the removal rate selectivity of the polishing layer; creating dynamic contact between the polishing surface and the substrate; dispensing the polishing slurry on the polishing pad at or near the interface between the polishing surface and the substrate; and, removing at least some of the silicon oxide and the silicon nitride from the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignees: Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials CMP Holdings, Inc., Dow Global Techologies LLCInventors: Bainian Qian, Yi Guo, Marty W. DeGroot, George C. Jacob
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Patent number: 9466475Abstract: An ashing device that prevents the ashing rate from changing over time. The ashing device ashes organic material on a substrate including an exposed metal in a processing chamber. The ashing device includes a path, which is formed in the processing chamber and through which active species supplied to the processing chamber pass. The path is defined by a surface on which the metal scattered from the substrate by the active species is collectible, with the surface being formed so as to expose a metal that is of the same kind.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: ULVAC, INC.Inventors: Masahisa Ueda, Takashi Kurimoto, Kyuzo Nakamura, Koukou Suu, Toshiya Yogo, Kazushige Komatsu, Nobusuke Tachibana
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Patent number: 9466506Abstract: The present invention is to provide a technique for uniformly processing a substrate surface in the process of processing a substrate by supplying a gas. The inside of a shower head having gas-jetting pores for supplying a gas to a substrate is partitioned into a center section from which a gas is supplied to the center portion of a substrate, and a peripheral section from which a gas is supplied to the peripheral portion of the substrate, and the same process gas is supplied to the substrate from these two sections at flow rates separately regulated. The distance from the center of the center section of the gas supply unit to the outermost gas-jetting pores in the center section is set 53% or more of the radius of the substrate. Moreover, an additional gas is further supplied to the peripheral portion of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2012Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Noriiki Masuda
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Patent number: 9457493Abstract: Provided is a method for producing a cylindrical nanoimprinting mold such that the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical aluminum substrate is uniformly polished, and it is possible to effectively take advantage of the outer peripheral surface. The method forms an oxide film at the outer peripheral surface (14) of an aluminum substrate (10) after polishing the entire outer peripheral surface (14) of the cylindrical aluminum substrate (10) by means of a polishing body (26), wherein the polishing body (26) is moved in the axial direction to polish in a manner such that at least a portion of the polishing body (26) is protruding beyond the first end (10a) side and second end (10b) side of the aluminum substrate (10), and the portion of the polishing body (26) protruding beyond the aluminum substrate (10) is disposed on and supported by a cylindrical first support member (18); and second support member (20).Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: MITSUBISHI RAYON CO., LTD.Inventors: Shinya Shakagoori, Makoto Ookawa, Kazuya Takanashi, Katsumi Hara
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Patent number: 9455153Abstract: There is provided a plasma processing method capable of carrying out a stable plasma process by way of improving plasma stabilization and also capable of increasing lifetime of a variable capacitor in a matching unit, as compared to a conventional case. The plasma processing method comprises performing a power modulation that periodically switches the high frequency power from the high frequency power supply between a first power and a second power higher than the first power, and performing a mask control that stops a matching operation of the matching unit for an application time of the first power and for a preset time after an application of the second power is started.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Genki Koguchi, Akio Morisaki, Yukinori Hanada