Patents Examined by Duy Deo
  • Patent number: 9660603
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a sloped termination of a molybdenum layer includes providing the molybdenum layer and applying a photo resist material to the molybdenum layer. The photo resist material is exposed under a defocus condition to generate a resist mask having an edge portion. The molybdenum layer is etched at least at the edge portion of the resist mask to result in a sloped termination of the molybdenum layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Neng Jiang, Elizabeth Costner Stewart, Nicholas S. Dellas
  • Patent number: 9659771
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to deposition of a conformal organic material over a feature formed in a photoresist or a hardmask, to decrease the critical dimensions and line edge roughness. In various embodiments, an ultra-conformal carbon-based material is deposited over features formed in a high-resolution photoresist. The conformal organic layer formed over the photoresist thus reduces both the critical dimensions and the line edge roughness of the features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Bencherki Mebarki, Pramit Manna, Li Yan Miao, Deenesh Padhi, Bok Hoen Kim, Christopher Dennis Bencher
  • Patent number: 9659788
    Abstract: A method for etching silicon-containing films is disclosed. The method includes the steps of introducing a vapor of a nitrogen containing etching compound into a reaction chamber containing a silicon-containing film on a substrate, wherein the nitrogen containing etching compound is an organofluorine compound containing at least one C?N or C?N functional group; introducing an inert gas into the reaction chamber; and activating a plasma to produce an activated nitrogen containing etching compound capable of etching the silicon-containing film from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Surla, Rahul Gupta, Venkateswara R. Pallem
  • Patent number: 9659792
    Abstract: Systems, chambers, and processes are provided for controlling process defects caused by moisture contamination. The systems may provide configurations for chambers to perform multiple operations in a vacuum or controlled environment. The chambers may include configurations to provide additional processing capabilities in combination chamber designs. The methods may provide for the limiting, prevention, and correction of aging defects that may be caused as a result of etching processes performed by system tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Anchuan Wang, Xinglong Chen, Zihui Li, Hiroshi Hamana, Zhijun Chen, Ching-Mei Hsu, Jiayin Huang, Nitin K. Ingle, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Shankar Venkataraman, Randhir Thakur
  • Patent number: 9657411
    Abstract: Disclosed is a single-crystal growth apparatus including a chamber, a crucible provided in the chamber and configured to accommodate a melt that is a raw material for single-crystal growth, a heater disposed between the crucible and a side wall of the chamber and heating the crucible, and a crucible screen disposed on an upper end of the crucible, and the crucible screen has a bending member reflecting a radiant heat generated from the melt in the crucible to inside wall of the crucible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: LG Siltron Incorporated
    Inventors: Chang Youn Lee, Do Won Song, Jun Hyuk Choi, Jin Ho Son, Cheol Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9656350
    Abstract: A method for selectively removing portions of a protective coating from a substrate, such as an electronic device, includes removing portions of the protective coating from the substrate. The removal process may include cutting the protective coating at specific locations, then removing desired portions of the protective coating from the substrate, or it may include ablating the portions of the protective coating that are to be removed. Coating and removal systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: HZO, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Astle, Tyler C. Child, Vimal K. Kasagani, Cameron L. Loose, Blake L. Stevens, Max E. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 9650723
    Abstract: Large area seed crystals for ammonothermal GaN growth are fabricated by deposition or layer transfer of a GaN layer on a CTE-matched handle substrate. The sides and back of the handle substrate are protected from the ammonothermal growth environment by a coating comprising an adhesion layer, a diffusion barrier layer, and an inert layer. A patterned mask, also comprising an adhesion layer, a diffusion barrier layer, and an inert layer, may be provided over the GaN layer to allow for reduction of the dislocation density by lateral epitaxial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Soraa, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. D'Evelyn, Wenkan Jiang, Derrick S. Kamber, Rajeev T. Pakalapati, Michael R. Krames
  • Patent number: 9650544
    Abstract: A polishing composition contains silicon dioxide, a water-soluble polymer, and water. An adsorbate containing at least part of the water-soluble polymer is adsorbed on the silicon dioxide. The adsorbate is contained in a concentration of 4 ppm by mass or more in terms of carbon. A percentage of the concentration of the adsorbate in terms of carbon relative to a total carbon concentration in the polishing composition is 15% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIMI INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kohsuke Tsuchiya, Maki Asada
  • Patent number: 9653264
    Abstract: Plasma processing apparatus and methods are disclosed. Embodiments of the present disclosure include a processing chamber having an interior space operable to receive a process gas, a substrate holder in the interior of the processing chamber operable to hold a substrate, and at least one dielectric window. A metal shield is disposed adjacent the dielectric window. The metal shield can have a peripheral portion and a central portion. The processing apparatus includes a primary inductive element disposed external to the processing chamber adjacent the peripheral portion of the metal shield. The processing apparatus can further include a secondary inductive element disposed between the central portion of the metal shield and the dielectric window. The primary and secondary inductive elements can perform different functions, can have different structural configurations, and can be operated at different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Nagorny, Dongsoo Lee, Andreas Kadavanich
  • Patent number: 9644285
    Abstract: Methods of depositing compound semiconductor materials on one or more substrates include metering and controlling a flow rate of a precursor liquid from a precursor liquid source into a vaporizer. The precursor liquid may comprise at least one of GaCl3, InCl3, and AlCl3 in a liquid state. The precursor liquid may be vaporized within the vaporizer to form a first precursor vapor. The first precursor vapor and a second precursor vapor may be caused to flow into a reaction chamber, and a compound semiconductor material may be deposited on a surface of a substrate within the reaction chamber from the precursor vapors. Deposition systems for performing such methods include devices for metering and/or controlling a flow of a precursor liquid from a liquid source to a vaporizer, while the precursor liquid remains in the liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SOITEC
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Bertram, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9646848
    Abstract: A method for etching a silicon oxide film on a target substrate where an etching area is partitioned by pattern layers and stopping the etching before a base layer of the silicon oxide layer is etched is disclosed. The method includes heating the target substrate in a vacuum atmosphere and intermittently supplying, as an etching gas, at least one of a processing gas containing a hydrogen fluoride gas and an ammonia gas in a pre-mixed state and a processing gas containing a compound of nitrogen, hydrogen and fluorine to the target substrate from a gas supply unit multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Satoshi Toda, Kensaku Narushima, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9644257
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite PDMS microstructure includes a defining step, a depositing step and an etching step. The defining step is performed for defining a patterned area having a mono-molecule with a thiol group on a PDMS substrate, and the mono-molecule with the thiol group is in liquid phase. The depositing step is performed for placing the PDMS substrate having the mono-molecule with the thiol group into a vacuum chamber within an activation time so as to deposit one Au atom on the patterned area of the PDMS substrate by a vacuum coating process. The etching step is performed for cleaning the PDMS substrate using water, and thus the Au atom can be selectively retained on the patterned area of the PDMS substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Fan-Gang Tseng, Pen-Cheng Wang, Tung-Yua Lee, Chun-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 9636718
    Abstract: A mask cleaning apparatus and a mask cleaning method are provided. The mask cleaning method comprises: placing a mask (100) on a stage (20); and ejecting a dry ice particle group including a plurality of dry ice particles (101) toward a surface of the mask (100) at a speed of 340 m/s to 1000 m/s, within a cleaning time, wherein the plurality of dry ice particles (101) impact the surface of the mask (100) so as to remove a contaminant on the surface of the mask. Thereby, the mask cleaning apparatus and the mask cleaning method provided by embodiments of the present disclosure can remove the contaminant on the mask, without increasing a contamination medium and damaging the surface of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kelvin Chiang, Peng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9636719
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for treating workpieces are disclosed. In some examples, the system includes a treatment station positioned in a process chamber for treating the workpiece with fluid. The example system includes a handling device positioned in the process chamber. The example handling device includes a base positioned in the process chamber, a supporting arm coupled to the base and pivotable relative to the base about a first pivot axis, a pivoting arm coupled to the supporting arm and pivotable relative to the supporting arm about a second pivot axis, and a receptacle coupled to the pivoting arm and including a workpiece holder capable of picking up the workpiece from a workpiece feeder positioned outside of the process chamber. The example handling device is capable of moving the workpiece through an opening of the process chamber and into a treatment position at the treatment station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Dürr Ecoclean GMBH
    Inventor: Michael Förster
  • Patent number: 9633847
    Abstract: A method for treating a microelectronic substrate to form a chemical template includes patterning the substrate to form a trench structure with a plurality of trenches of a defined trench width and depositing a photoactive material on the substrate to overfill the trench structure to form a fill portion in the plurality of trenches and an overfill portion above the trench structure. The method further includes exposing the photoactive material to electromagnetic radiation comprising a wavelength that is at least four times greater than the defined trench width such that the overfill portion is modified by the exposure while the electromagnetic radiation fails to penetrate into the plurality of trenches leaving the fill portion unmodified and removing the modified overfill portion of the photoactive material to form a planarized filled trench structure for use as a chemical template for selective reactive ion etching, selective deposition, or directed self-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Benjamen M. Rathsack, Mark H. Somervell
  • Patent number: 9631121
    Abstract: A polishing composition is used to polish a polishing subject having a phase change alloy. The polishing composition includes abrasive grains and a brittle film formation agent. The brittle film formation agent is at least one or more selected from a saturated monocarboxylic acid and an organophosphorus compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIMI INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Yukinobu Yoshizaki, Yoshihiro Izawa
  • Patent number: 9630218
    Abstract: An air-flushing device cleans a cleaning object by air-blowing to the object from a nozzle. The air-flushing device outputs a pressure value changing according to electromagnetic valve's opening/closing, and controls the valve's opening/closing based on two reference values of an upper-limit setting value and a lower-limit setting value lower than that. The air-flushing device closes the valve if the pressure value changes from lower than the upper-limit setting value to that or higher, and opens the valve if the pressure value changes from higher than the lower-limit setting value to that or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Kakutani, Satoshi Shiroko, Haruyuki Fujitsuna
  • Patent number: 9627234
    Abstract: A method and a system that include providing a localized dispensing apparatus. A substrate having a material disposed on its top surface is oriented above the localized dispensing apparatus. A chemical is then dispensed from the localized dispensing apparatus onto the top surface of the oriented substrate. The chemical removes the material. The path for the material removal may be determined and the localized dispensing apparatus programmed to provide chemical according to the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui-Min Huang, Chih-Wei Lin, Cheng-Ting Chen, Ming-Da Cheng, Chung-Shi Liu
  • Patent number: 9627192
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus (a substrate processing method, and a computer readable storage medium having a substrate processing program stored therein) of cleaning an etched substrate with a polymer removing liquid, in which any of isopropyl alcohol vapor, water vapor, deionized water and isopropyl alcohol, ammonia water, and ammonia water and isopropyl alcohol is supplied to the substrate before the substrate is cleaned with the polymer removing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Naoyuki Okamura, Kazuki Kosai, Kazuhiro Teraoka, Fumihiro Kamimura
  • Patent number: 9623371
    Abstract: A method for digestion and gasification of graphite for removal from an underlying surface is described. The method can be utilized to remove graphite remnants of a formation process from the formed metal piece in a cleaning process. The method can be particularly beneficial in cleaning castings formed with graphite molding materials. The method can utilize vaporous nitric acid (HNO3) or vaporous HNO3 with air/oxygen to digest the graphite at conditions that can avoid damage to the underlying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Pierce