Patents Examined by Karla Moore
  • Patent number: 11286562
    Abstract: A gas-phase chemical reactor, a system including the reactor, and methods of using the reactor and system are disclosed. An exemplary reactor includes a reaction chamber and is configured to provide a precursor within the reaction chamber for a soak period—e.g., a period wherein a supply of the precursor to the reaction chamber is ceased and before purging of the reaction chamber begins. This allows relatively high residence times, relatively high partial pressures of the precursor(s) and/or a relatively high absolute pressure to be obtained within the reaction chamber during substrate processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Antti Juhani Niskanen
  • Patent number: 11282680
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a bearing device and a plasma processing apparatus. According to at least one embodiment, the bearing device includes a base, a base driving mechanism, a pressing ring and a baffle ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING NAURA MICROELECTRONICS EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Guo, Peng Chen, Jue Hou
  • Patent number: 11270896
    Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for ultraviolet (UV) assisted capillary condensation to form dielectric materials. In some embodiments, a UV driven reaction facilitates photo-polymerization of a liquid phase flowable material. Applications include high quality gap fill in high aspect ratio structures and pore sealing of a porous solid dielectric film. According to various embodiments, single station and multi-station chambers configured for capillary condensation and UV exposure are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Mohn, Nicholas Muga Ndiege, Patrick A. van Cleemput, David Fang Wei Chen, Wenbo Liang, Shawn M. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 11261526
    Abstract: An atomic layer deposition (ALD) method in an ALD reactor including a reaction chamber housing a substrate vessel, and an isolated vibration source outside of the reaction chamber or isolated within the reaction chamber. Particulate material within the substrate vessel is coated by self-saturating surface reactions using a top-to-bottom precursor flow passing through the substrate vessel, and movements are caused in the particulate material within the substrate vessel by the isolated vibration source while coating the particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Picosun Oy
    Inventor: Marko Pudas
  • Patent number: 11248294
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes: a mounting stand for mounting a substrate thereon; a support rod for supporting the mounting stand from below; a revolution mechanism provided below the mounting stand and for supporting the support rod to revolve the mounting stand; a heating part provided between the mounting stand and the revolution mechanism as seen in a height direction and for heating a revolution region of the mounting stand; a heat transfer plate provided between the heating part and the revolution region and for radiating a heat generated from the heating part to the revolution region; and a processing gas supply part for supplying a processing gas to the revolution region. Each of the heating part and the heat transfer plate is divided into a center side and an outer side of the processing container via a gap so as to form a movement path of the support rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Hitoshi Kato
  • Patent number: 11244822
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vacuum chamber, a wafer transfer mechanism, a first gas source, a second gas source and a reuse gas pipe. The vacuum chamber is divided into at least three reaction regions including a first reaction region, a second reaction region and a third reaction region. The wafer transfer mechanism is structured to transfer a wafer from the first reaction region to the third reaction region via the second reaction region. The first gas source supplies a first gas to the first reaction region via a first gas pipe, and a second gas source supplies a second gas to the second reaction region via a second gas pipe. The reuse gas pipe is connected between the first reaction region and the third reaction region for supplying an unused first gas collected in the first reaction region to the third reaction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsai-Fu Hsiao, Kuang-Yuan Hsu, Pei-Ren Jeng, Tze-Liang Lee
  • Patent number: 11242599
    Abstract: A reactor for coating particles includes a vacuum chamber configured to hold particles to be coated, a vacuum port to exhaust gas from the vacuum chamber via the outlet of the vacuum chamber, a chemical delivery system configured to flow a process gas into the particles via a gas inlet on the vacuum chamber, one or more vibrational actuators located on a first mounting surface of the vacuum chamber, and a controller configured to cause the one or more vibrational actuators to generate a vibrational motion in the vacuum chamber sufficient to induce a vibrational motion in the particles held within the vacuum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kaushal Gangakhedkar, Jonathan Frankel, Colin C. Neikirk, Pravin K. Narwankar
  • Patent number: 11230763
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spatial atomic layer deposition including at least one first exhaust system and at least one second exhaust system. Each exhaust system including a throttle valve and a pressure gauge to control the pressure in the processing region associated with the individual exhaust system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ning Li, Steven D. Marcus, Tai T. Ngo, Kevin Griffin
  • Patent number: 11222794
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a semiconductor fabrication apparatus. The semiconductor apparatus includes a processing chamber for etching; a substrate stage integrated in the processing chamber and being configured to secure a semiconductor wafer; a reflective mirror configured inside the processing chamber to reflect thermal energy from the heating mechanism toward the semiconductor wafer; and a heating mechanism embedded in the process chamber and is operable to perform a baking process to remove a by-product generated during the etching. The heating mechanism is integrated between the reflective mirror and a gas distribution plate of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Han-Yu Lin, Yi-Ruei Jhan, Fang-Wei Lee, Li-Te Lin, Pinyen Lin, Tze-Chung Lin
  • Patent number: 11211558
    Abstract: A vapor deposition mask device includes a vapor deposition mask having an effective region in which a plurality of first through holes is disposed, and a frame attached to the vapor deposition mask. The vapor deposition mask device includes a plurality of joint portions that joins the vapor deposition mask and the frame to each other. The plurality of joint portions is arranged along the outer edge of the vapor deposition mask. A notch is formed at a position corresponding to between two adjacent joint portions in the outer edge of the vapor deposition mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Nakamura, Hideyuki Okamoto, Masato Ushikusa
  • Patent number: 11201037
    Abstract: Process kits, processing chambers, and methods for processing a substrate are provided. The process kit includes an edge ring, an adjustable tuning ring, and an actuating mechanism. The edge ring has a first ring component interfaced with a second ring component that is movable relative to the first ring component forming a gap therebetween. A lower surface of the second ring component contains an upper alignment coupling and an upper surface of the adjustable tuning ring contains a lower alignment coupling. The lower alignment coupling of the adjustable tuning ring is configured to mate with the upper alignment coupling of the second ring component to form an interface. The actuating mechanism is interfaced with the lower surface of the adjustable tuning ring. The actuating mechanism is configured to actuate the adjustable tuning ring such that the gap between the first ring component and the second ring component is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Yogananda Sarode Vishwanath
  • Patent number: 11195736
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to detach a substrate from a table without damaging the substrate by lift pins. One embodiment of the present invention provides a substrate processing apparatus having a vacuum suction table adapted to have a substrate placed thereon, and a plurality of lift pins disposed along the outer periphery of the vacuum suction table. The lift pins each have a distal end portion including a substrate guide surface capable of guiding the outer peripheral end surface of the substrate, and a proximal end portion including a substrate holding surface extending from the substrate guide surface outwardly in a radial direction of the lift pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Toyomura, Mitsuru Miyazaki, Takuya Inoue
  • Patent number: 11195756
    Abstract: Methods of and carriers for dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a cover ring for protecting a carrier and substrate assembly during an etch process includes an inner opening having a diameter smaller than the diameter of a substrate of the carrier and substrate assembly. An outer frame surrounds the inner opening. The outer frame has a bevel for accommodating an outermost portion of the substrate of the carrier and substrate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Holden, Alexander N. Lerner, Ajay Kumar, Aparna Iyer, Alan Hiroshi Ouye
  • Patent number: 11183408
    Abstract: An in-line wet bench device for the wet-chemical treatment of semiconductor wafers, comprising a plurality of conveying rollers, each of which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, for the in-line transport of semiconductor wafers along a conveying direction, wherein the axes of rotation are arranged parallel to one another and perpendicular to the conveying direction, the conveying rollers having a cylindrical conveying section which extends axially along the respective axis of rotation and forms a conveying surface in the shape of a cylindrical sleeve. The conveying surface has at least one smooth region with surface roughnesses of less than 10 ?m when viewed in the axial direction and rough regions with surface roughnesses of more than 100 ?m axially adjacent to the smooth region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: HANWHA Q CELLS GMBH
    Inventor: Anika Weihrauch
  • Patent number: 11180851
    Abstract: A reactor for coating particles includes one or more motors, a rotary vacuum chamber configured to hold particles to be coated and coupled to the motors, a controller configured to cause the motors to rotate the chamber in a first direction about an axial axis at a rotation speed sufficient to force the particles to be centrifuged against an inner diameter of the chamber, a vacuum port to exhaust gas from the rotary vacuum chamber, a paddle assembly including a rotatable drive shaft extending through the chamber and coupled to the motors and at least one paddle extending radially from the drive shaft, such that rotation of the drive shaft by the motors orbits the paddle about the drive shaft in a second direction, and a chemical delivery system including a gas outlet on the paddle configured inject process gas into the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin C. Neikirk, Pravin K. Narwankar, Kaushal Gangakhedkar, Visweswaren Sivaramakrishnan, Jonathan Frankel, David Masayuki Ishikawa, Quoc Truong, Joseph Yudovsky
  • Patent number: 11183405
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes an air distributor inside a chamber. The air distributor includes a first annular plate and a second annular plate disposed in an interior volume of the chamber, and an inner surface of the first annular plate and an inner surface of the second annular plate are connected to each other. A hollow region is defined by the first annular plate and the second annular plate. A gas through hole is extended from an outer surface of the first annular plate to the inner surface of the first annular plate. A plurality of ditches are between the inner surface of the first annular plate and the inner surface of the second annular plate, wherein the ditches are connected with the gas through hole and extended from the gas through hole to the hollow region to blow gas toward the hollow region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Chao-Tzung Tsai, Tzu Ken Lin, I-Chang Wu, Ching-Lun Lai, Li-Jia Liou
  • Patent number: 11174552
    Abstract: A reactor for coating particles includes one or more motors, a rotary vacuum chamber configured to hold particles to be coated, wherein the rotary vacuum chamber is coupled to the motors, a controller configured to cause the motors to rotate the rotary vacuum chamber about an axial axis of the rotary vacuum chamber such that the particles undergo tumbling agitation, a vacuum port to exhaust gas from the rotary vacuum chamber, a paddle assembly including a rotatable drive shaft extending through the rotary vacuum chamber and coupled to the motors and at least one paddle extending radially from the drive shaft, such that rotation of the drive shaft by the motors orbits the paddle about the drive shaft in a second direction, and a chemical delivery system including a gas outlet on the paddle configured inject process gas into the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin C. Neikirk, Pravin K. Narwankar, Kaushal Gangakhedkar, Visweswaren Sivaramakrishnan, Jonathan Frankel, David Masayuki Ishikawa, Quoc Truong, Joseph Yudovsky
  • Patent number: 11162173
    Abstract: Disclosed is apparatus for atomic layer deposition including a frame, an injector head with longitudinal slots supplying gases to deposition spaces confined by the longitudinal slots and a substrate. The slots are transverse to a movement in a first direction of the substrate, a subframe suspending the injector head; a movable carrier supporting the substrate for movement in the first direction; and gas pads at the subframe outside the injector head between the subframe and the moveable carrier, bearing the subframe on the carrier for the movement in the first direction. Actuators suspend the injector head from the subframe, and a control device connected to the actuators controls the actuators to adjust a working distance between a reference plane of the injector head and the surface of the substrate corresponding to a predetermined distance and to adjust an orientation of the injector head corresponding to an orientation of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: SMIT THERMAL SOLUTIONS B.V.
    Inventors: Wiro Rudolf Zijlmans, Martin Dinant Bijker, Ernst Dullemeijer, Guido Lijster
  • Patent number: 11164759
    Abstract: A system for fabricating a semiconductor device structure includes a tool comprising a chamber and a platform within the chamber configured to receive a semiconductor device structure thereon. The tool further includes a heating and cooling system in operable communication with the platform and configured to control a temperature of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael E. Koltonski
  • Patent number: 11158525
    Abstract: A recovery route returns, to a retaining tank, mixed solution supplied to a substrate processing unit. A discarding route discards the supplied mixed solution to a place other than the retaining tank. A switching controller causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the discarding route during a time interval until a first time interval has elapsed from a time point when the substrate processing unit starts to supply the mixed solution; causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the recovery route during a time interval until a second time interval, which is decided based on a predetermined recovery rate, has elapsed after the first time interval elapses; and causes the supplied mixed solution to flow into the discarding route during a time interval until supply of the mixed solution has been ended from a time point when the second time interval elapses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Takaki, Shinichi Umeno, Takashi Nagai, Hisashi Morita, Nobuhiro Ogata, Yusuke Takamatsu, Jiro Higashijima