Patents Examined by Jeffrie R. Lund
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Patent number: 10879048Abstract: A charge volume configuration for use in delivery of gas to a reactor for processing semiconductor wafers is provided. A charge volume includes a chamber that extends between a proximal end and a distal end. A base connected to the proximal end of the chamber, and the base includes an inlet port and an outlet port. A tube is disposed within the chamber. The tube has a tube diameter that is less than a chamber diameter. The tube has a connection end coupled to the inlet port at the proximal end of the chamber and an output end disposed at the distal end of the chamber.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2019Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventor: Karl F. Leeser
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Patent number: 10858736Abstract: An atomic layer deposition apparatus includes a chamber including a plurality of regions; and a heating device respectively providing specific temperature ranges for the plurality of regions. By flowing precursor gases at different flow rates in the different regions, thin films can be simultaneously formed in the different regions having different film thicknesses.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.Inventors: Chia-Yi Chuang, Hsing-Jui Lee, Ming-Te Chen
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Patent number: 10858737Abstract: Showerhead assemblies, gas distribution plates, and systems including the same are disclosed. Exemplary showerhead assemblies include a gas distribution plate. Exemplary gas distribution plates include apertures designed to direct a flow of gas and to reduce stagnation of gas on surfaces of the plates.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.Inventors: Carl White, Eric Shero, Jereld Lee Winkler, David Marquardt
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Patent number: 10858729Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide methods and systems including a nozzle, a source of material to be deposited on a substrate in fluid communication with the nozzle, a delivery gas source in fluid communication with the source of material to be deposited with the nozzle, an exhaust channel disposed adjacent to the nozzle, a confinement gas source in fluid communication with the nozzle and the exhaust channel, and disposed adjacent to the exhaust channel, and an actuator to adjust a fly height separation between a deposition nozzle aperture of the nozzle and a deposition target. The adjustment of the fly height separation may stop and/or start the deposition of the material from the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2015Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Universal Display CorporationInventors: Gregory McGraw, William E. Quinn, Matthew King, Elliot H. Hartford, Jr., Siddharth Harikrishna Mohan, Benjamin Swedlove, Gregg Kottas
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Patent number: 10844489Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes: a mounting table configured to place a substrate thereon and to be rotatable around an axis; a unit provided in a first region such that its bottom surface faces the mounting table and having first and second buffer spaces therein; and a flow rate controller that independently controls flow rates of a precursor gas supplied to the first and second buffer spaces. In the bottom surface, the unit includes: an inside injection section including injection ports communicated with the first buffer space and configured to inject the precursor gas supplied to the first buffer space; and an intermediate injection section including injection ports communicated with the second buffer space and configured to inject the precursor gas supplied to the second buffer space. All the first injection ports are provided at a location closer to the axis, as compared to the second injection ports.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Masahide Iwasaki, Toshihisa Nozawa, Kohei Yamashita
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Patent number: 10832903Abstract: Embodiments related to managing the process feed conditions for a semiconductor process module are provided. In one example, a gas channel plate for a semiconductor process module is provided. The example gas channel plate includes a heat exchange surface including a plurality of heat exchange structures separated from one another by intervening gaps. The example gas channel plate also includes a heat exchange fluid director plate support surface for supporting a heat exchange fluid director plate above the plurality of heat exchange structures so that at least a portion of the plurality of heat exchange structures are spaced from the heat exchange fluid director plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2018Date of Patent: November 10, 2020Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.Inventors: Fred Pettinger, Carl White, Dave Marquardt, Sokol Ibrani, Eric Shero, Todd Dunn, Kyle Fondurulia, Mike Halpin
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Patent number: 10815569Abstract: A shower head of a combinatorial spatial atomic layer deposition (CS-ALD) apparatus may be provided. The shower head of the CS-ALD apparatus may include a plurality of shower blocks. Each of shower blocks may include a plurality of unit modules. Each of the shower blocks and each of the unit modules may be controlled independently from each other. Each of the plurality of unit modules may include a source gas injection nozzle, a purge gas injection nozzle, a reactant gas injection nozzle, and exhaust areas between the injection nozzles. The plurality of shower blocks may be separated from each other. Gas injection areas of the injection nozzles may be separated from the exhaust area.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2016Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xianyu Wenxu, Yongsung Kim, Jaikwang Shin, Wooyoung Yang
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Patent number: 10811301Abstract: A method and apparatus for a pedestal is provided. In one embodiment, the pedestal includes a body comprising a ceramic material having a flange, one or more heating elements embedded in the body, a first shaft coupled to the flange, and a second shaft coupled to the first shaft; wherein the second shaft includes a plurality of fluid channels formed therein that terminate in the second shaft.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Xing Lin, Jianhua Zhou, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Ramprakash Sankarakrishnan
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Patent number: 10808318Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes: a process chamber accommodating a substrate support supporting substrates in multiple stages to process the substrates; a supply buffer part adjacent the process chamber; a first gas supply part installed in the supply buffer part; a second gas supply part installed in the supply buffer part; an inner wall installed between the supply buffer part and the process chamber, on which a plurality of slits are formed to correspond to the substrates; and a maintenance port disposed at a lower end of the inner wall, wherein the first gas supply part includes a first gas nozzle having a supply hole that supplies first gas into the supply buffer part.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: October 20, 2020Assignee: KOKUSAI ELECTRIC CORPORATIONInventors: Takeo Hanashima, Tsukasa Kamakura, Takafumi Sasaki, Hidenari Yoshida
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Patent number: 10804098Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and system for depositing a thin film onto a substrate. One aspect of the invention is depositing a thin film metal oxide layer using atomic layer deposition (ALD).Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.Inventors: Petri Raisanen, Jung Sung-hoon, Verghese Mohith
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Patent number: 10787742Abstract: A control system for a plasma treatment apparatus includes a wafer treatment device. The wafer treatment device includes a vapor chamber and an upper electrode assembly. The upper electrode assembly includes a gas distribution plate having a plurality of holes. The upper electrode assembly includes an upper electrode having at least one gas nozzle and at least one controllable valve connected to the at least one gas nozzle for controlling a flow of gas from a gas supply to the holes via the at least one gas nozzle. The at least one gas nozzle is separated from the gate distribution plate by a gap. The control system includes a measurement device configured to measure a thickness profile of a wafer. The control system includes a controller configured to generate a control signal. The at least one controllable valve is configured to be adjusted based on the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2017Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Yen-Shuo Su, Ying Xiao, Chin-Hsiang Lin
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Patent number: 10780447Abstract: Apparatus for controlling thermal uniformity of a substrate-facing surface of a showerhead are provided herein. In some embodiments, a heat transfer system includes a heat transfer plate having a first diameter and a plurality of independent flow paths disposed within the heat transfer plate, each flow path having a first inlet and a first outlet; a supply conduit system having a second inlet fluidly coupled to a plurality of second outlets, wherein each second outlet is fluidly coupled to a corresponding first inlet of the heat transfer plate; and a return conduit system having a third outlet fluidly coupled to a plurality of third inlets, wherein each third inlet is fluidly coupled to a corresponding first outlet of the heat transfer plate, wherein the supply conduit system and the return conduit system are each disposed within an imaginary cylindrical projection above the heat transfer plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Richard Fovell, Silverst Rodrigues, James D. Carducci
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Patent number: 10784086Abstract: Methods of etching cobalt on substrates are provided. Some methods involve exposing the substrate to a boron-containing halide gas and an additive, and exposing the substrate to an activation gas and a plasma. Additives improve selectively depositing a thicker layer of a boron-containing halide material on a surface of a mask than on a surface of a metal. Additives include H2, CH4, CF4, NF3, and Cl2. Boron-containing halide gases include BCl3, BBr3, BF3, and BI3. Exposures may be performed in two or more cycles, with variations in durations and/or bias power for each exposure in the two or more cycles.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2017Date of Patent: September 22, 2020Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATIONInventors: Jialing Yang, Baosuo Zhou, Meihua Shen, Thorsten Lill, John Hoang
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Patent number: 10774420Abstract: According to an embodiment, a flow passage structure includes a member. The member has a surface and is provided with a first passage, a plurality of first openings, a second passage, and a plurality of second openings. The first passage includes a plurality of first closed path portions connected to each other. The first openings is connected to the first passage and is opened in the surface. The second passage includes a plurality of second closed path portions connected to each other. The second openings is connected to the second passage and is opened in the surface. The first closed path portions pass through the second closed path portions while being isolated from the second closed path portions. The second closed path portions pass through the first closed path portions while being isolated from the first closed path portions.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2017Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Takahiro Terada, Shiguma Kato, Shinya Higashi, Masayuki Tanaka, Takuya Matsuda
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Patent number: 10763138Abstract: Provided is a substrate treating apparatus using a process gas and an adjustment plate used thereof. A substrate treating apparatus including a chamber providing a space in which a process is performed, a support member supporting a substrate in the chamber, a gas supply member supplying a process gas onto the substrate disposed on the support member, and an exhaust assembly coupled to the chamber to exhaust a gas in the chamber, wherein the exhaust assembly includes an exhaust pipe connected to the chamber, an exhaust member connected to the exhaust pipe to provide a vacuum pressure in the exhaust pipe, a valve adjusting an opening rate of the exhaust pipe, and an adjustment plate having a cover plate which is provided in the chamber to interfere with a flow of the process gas in an internal region of the chamber in a direction corresponding to, when the exhaust pipe is partially opened, an opened region of the exhaust pipe. Consequently, the process gas may be uniformly supplied onto the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.Inventor: Hyung Joon Kim
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Patent number: 10755902Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a chamber, a mounting table 2 and a focus ring 8. The chamber is configured to process a semiconductor wafer W with plasma. The mounting table 2 is provided within the chamber, and includes a holding surface 9a on which the semiconductor wafer W is mounted. The focus ring 8 is provided to surround the semiconductor wafer W mounted on the holding surface 9a, and includes a first flat portion 8a, a second flat portion 8b and a third flat portion 8c which are formed in sequence from an inner circumferential side of the focus ring 8 toward an outer circumferential side thereof. Here, the first flat portion 8a is lower than the holding surface 9a, the second flat portion 8b is lower than the first flat portion 8a, and the third flat portion 8c is higher than the first flat portion 8a.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Hiroki Kishi, Jisoo Suh
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Patent number: 10745804Abstract: A torch for fabricating optical fiber preforms may include a body having a surface and two or more slit-shaped orifices oriented parallel or substantially parallel to each other along the surface. The torch body may further include two or more conduits connected to corresponding orifices. The torch may be used by orienting it relative to a preform substrate, and simultaneously emitting two or more gases from corresponding orifices toward the surface of the preform substrate, such that the gases are involved in a reaction to form a soot.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2017Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: OFS FITEL, LLCInventor: Lazhar Mazlout
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Patent number: 10738382Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus (100) comprising a process tunnel (102) including a lower tunnel wall (122), an upper tunnel wall (142), and two lateral tunnel walls (128), said tunnel walls being configured to bound a process tunnel space (104) that extends in a longitudinal transport direction (7) and that is suitable for accommodating at least one substantially planar substrate (180) oriented parallel to the upper and lower tunnel walls (122, 142), the process tunnel being divided in a lower tunnel body (120) comprising the lower tunnel wall and an upper tunnel body (140) comprising the upper tunnel wall, which tunnel bodies (120, 140) are separably joinable to each other along at least one longitudinally extending join (160), such that they are mutually movable between a closed configuration in which the tunnel walls (122, 128, 142) bound the process tunnel space (104) and an open configuration that enables lateral maintenance access to an interior of the process tunnel.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2014Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: ASM INTERNATIONAL N.V.Inventors: Ernst Hendrik August Granneman, Pieter Tak
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Patent number: 10741365Abstract: A low volume showerhead in a semiconductor processing apparatus can include a porous baffle to improve the flow uniformity and purge time during atomic layer deposition. The showerhead can include a plenum volume, one or more gas inlets in fluid communication with the plenum volume, a faceplate including a plurality of first through-holes for distributing gas onto a substrate in the semiconductor processing apparatus, and a porous baffle positioned in a region between the plenum volume and the one or more gas inlets. The one or more gas inlets can include a stem having a small volume to improve purge time. The baffle can be porous and positioned between the stem and the plenum volume to improve flow uniformity and avoid jetting.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2015Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Saangrut Sangplung, Shankar Swaminathan, Frank L. Pasquale, Hu Kang, Adrien LaVoie
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Patent number: 10731254Abstract: There is provided a technique that includes a protective plate installed on a lid, including: a disc portion, of which a lower surface is in contact with an upper surface of the lid, a side wall portion extending from an outer peripheral end of the disc portion, a groove formed in the lower surface of the disc portion, and a stepped portion formed to be closer to the outer peripheral end of the disc portion than the groove, a clearance formed between the upper surface of the lid and the stepped portion, wherein the groove is configured to be able to form a flow of a gas that runs through a gap between the lid and the stepped portion, and is supplied to an outside of the side wall portion.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2020Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Kokusai Electric CorporationInventors: Shuhei Saido, Hidenari Yoshida, Yusaku Okajima