Patents Examined by Kurt Sweely
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Patent number: 11908664Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a stage for supporting a target object in a chamber defined by a chamber body. The stage includes a lower electrode, an electrostatic chuck provided on the lower electrode, heaters provided in the electrostatic chuck, and terminals electrically connected to the heaters. A conductor pipe electrically connects a high frequency power supply and the lower electrode and extends from the lower electrode to the outside of the chamber body. Power supply lines supply power from a heater controller to the heaters. Filters partially forming the power supply lines prevent the inflow of high frequency power from the heaters to the heater controller. The power supply lines include wirings which respectively connect the terminals and the filters and extend to the outside of the chamber body through an inner bore of the conductor pipe.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Naohiko Okunishi, Nozomu Nagashima, Tomoyuki Takahashi
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Patent number: 11908728Abstract: Techniques herein include a process chamber for depositing thin films to backside surfaces of wafers to reduce wafer bowing and distortion. A substrate support provides an annular perimeter seal around the bottom and/or side of the wafer which allows the majority of the substrate backside to be exposed to a process environment. A supported wafer separates the chamber into lower and upper chambers that provide different process environments. The lower section of the processing chamber includes deposition hardware configured to apply and remove thin films. The upper section can remain a chemically inert environment, protecting the existing features on the top surface of the wafer. Multiple exhausts and differential pressures are used to prevent deposition gasses from accessing the working surface of a wafer.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2018Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Ronald Nasman, Gerrit J. Leusink, Rodney L. Robison, Hoyoung Kang, Daniel Fulford
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Patent number: 11885003Abstract: A rotational drive device includes a first rotator configured to rotate with respect to a stator, a plurality of second rotators configured to rotate with respect to the first rotator, a plurality of drivers configured to rotatably drive the respective second rotators, and a plurality of driver controllers configured to rotate integrally with the first rotator and to control rotation of the drivers, respectively, the respective driver controllers being connected to one another by a communication network.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Junnosuke Taguchi, Yasutomo Kimura
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Patent number: 11881379Abstract: In a mask pattern forming method, a resist film is formed over a thin film, the resist film is processed into resist patterns having a predetermined pitch by photolithography, slimming of the resist patterns is performed, and an oxide film is formed on the thin film and the resist patterns after an end of the slimming step in a film deposition apparatus by supplying a source gas and an oxygen radical or an oxygen-containing gas. In the mask pattern forming method, the slimming and the oxide film forming are continuously performed in the film deposition apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Kazuhide Hasebe, Shigeru Nakajima, Jun Ogawa, Hiroki Murakami
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Patent number: 11869780Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes a processing liquid storage unit configured to store a processing liquid therein; a processing liquid drain unit configured to drain the processing liquid from the processing liquid storage unit; and a control unit. The control unit performs a first control in a constant concentration mode in which a concentration of the processing liquid in the processing liquid storage unit is regulated to a predetermined set concentration and a second control in a concentration changing mode in which the concentration of the processing liquid is changed. In the second control, a set concentration after concentration change is compared with a set concentration before the concentration change, and when the set concentration after the concentration change is lower, the control unit controls the processing liquid drain unit to start draining of the processing liquid.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Takahiro Kawazu, Takafumi Tsuchiya, Hideaki Sato, Hidemasa Aratake, Osamu Kuroda, Takashi Nagai, Jiro Harada
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Patent number: 11862435Abstract: A system includes an electrode. The electrode includes a showerhead having a first stem portion and a head portion. A plurality of dielectric layers is vertically stacked between the electrode and a first surface of a conducting structure. The plurality of dielectric layers includes M dielectric layers arranged adjacent to the head portion and P dielectric portions arranged around the first stem portion. The plurality of dielectric layers defines a first gap between the electrode and one of the plurality of dielectric layers, a second gap between adjacent ones of the plurality of dielectric layers, and a third gap between a last one of the plurality of dielectric layers and the first surface. A number of the plurality of dielectric layers and sizes of the first gap, the second gap, and the third gap are selected to prevent parasitic plasma between the first surface and the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2023Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Douglas Keil, Edward J. Augustyniak, Karl Frederick Leeser, Mohamed Sabri
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Patent number: 11854775Abstract: The disclosure relates to microwave cavity plasma reactor (MCPR) apparatus and associated optical measurement system that enable microwave plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition (MPACVD) of a component such as diamond while measuring the local surface properties of the component while being grown. Related methods include deposition of the component, measurement of the local surface properties, and/or alteration of operating conditions during deposition in response to the local surface properties. As described in more detail below, the MPCR apparatus includes one or more electrically conductive, optically transparent regions forming part of the external boundary of its microwave chamber, thus permitting external optical interrogation of internal reactor conditions during deposition while providing a desired electrical microwave chamber to maintain selected microwave excitation modes therein.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITYInventors: Timothy A. Grotjohn, Jes Asmussen
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Patent number: 11814721Abstract: The present disclosure provides a holding arrangement. The holding arrangement for holding a substrate includes: a body portion having a first side; a dry adhesive material provided on the first side of the body portion; a seal surrounding the dry adhesive material and configured to provide a vacuum region on the first side, wherein the dry adhesive material is provided in the vacuum region; and a conduit to evacuate the vacuum region.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventor: Simon Lau
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Patent number: 11810769Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a conductive enclosure having a gas passage, a conductive member having a gas passage, and a piping assembly including a hollow tube having an inner sidewall, a core block disposed in the hollow tube, the core block having an outer sidewall fitting the inner sidewall of the hollow tube, the core block having a first dielectric constant, and at least one dielectric member disposed in at least one of the hollow tube and the core block, the dielectric member having a second dielectric constant higher than the first dielectric constant.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Kazuki Oshima
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Patent number: 11798785Abstract: Systems and methods for reverse pulsing are described. One of the systems includes a controller, first and second source radio frequency (RF) generators, and first and second bias RF generators. The controller controls the first source RF generator to generate a first source pulsed signal, and controls the second source RF generator to generate a second source pulsed signal. The system includes a first match circuit that receives the first and second source pulsed signals and combines the first and second source pulsed signals. The controller controls the first bias RF generator to generate a first bias pulsed signal, and controls the second bias RF generator to generate a second bias pulsed signal. The system includes a second match circuit that receives the first and second bias pulsed signals and combines the first and second bias pulsed signals into a combined bias signal.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2017Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Maolin Long, Zhongkui Tan, Ying Wu, Qian Fu, Alex Paterson, John Drewery
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Patent number: 11784026Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a reaction chamber including an inlet through which a reaction gas is supplied and an outlet through which residue gas is exhausted; a plurality of ionizers located at a front end of the inlet and configured to ionize the reaction gas supplied through the inlet; and a heater configured to heat the reaction chamber. The plurality of ionizers include a first ionizer configured to ionize the reaction gas positively; and a second ionizer configured to ionize the reaction gas negatively.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2021Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Inventors: Woongsik Kim, Nongmoon Hwang, Yoonjung Lee
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Patent number: 11749509Abstract: Plasma processing apparatus and methods are disclosed. In one example implementation, a plasma processing apparatus can include a processing chamber. The apparatus can include a pedestal located in the processing chamber configured to support a workpiece during processing. The apparatus can include a dielectric window forming at least a portion of the processing chamber. The apparatus can include an inductive coupling element located proximate the dielectric window. The inductive coupling element can be configured to generate a plasma in the processing chamber when energized with RF energy. The apparatus can include a Faraday shield located between the inductive coupling element and the processing chamber. The apparatus can include at least one temperature control element in thermal communication with the Faraday shield.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignees: BEIJING E-TOWN SEMICONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGY, CO., LTD, MATTSON TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Yorkman Ma, Dixit V. Desai
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Patent number: 11728142Abstract: A surface treatment apparatus and a surface treatment system having the same are disclosed. The surface treatment apparatus includes a process chamber in which the surface treatment process is conducted, a plasma generator for generating process radicals as a plasma state for the surface treatment process, the plasma generator being positioned outside of the process chamber and connected to the process chamber by a supply duct, a heat exchanger arranged on the supply duct and cooling down temperature of the process radicals passing through the supply duct and a flow controller controlling the process radicals to flow out of the process chamber. The flow controller is connected to a discharge duct through which the process radicals are discharged outside the process chamber. The plasma surface treatment process is conducted to the package structure having minute mounting gap without the damages to the IC chip and the board.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., New Power Plasma CO., LTD.Inventors: Junyoung Oh, Jaeho Kwak, Boeun Jang, Seokyeon Hwang, Yongseok Seo, Sangsoo Kim, Seunghwan Kim, Jongho Park, Yongkwan Lee, Jongho Lee, Daewook Kim, Wonpil Lee, Changkyu Choi
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Patent number: 11705314Abstract: Provided is a generator including a power amplifier, at least one sampler, an RF output, a signal generator, a controller including a digital control portion and an analogue control portion, an analogue feedback path between the at least one sampler and the controller enabling an analogue signal representation of a signal to be provided to the controller, and a digital feedback path between the at least one sampler and the controller enabling a digital signal representation of the signal to be provided to the controller. The controller is configured to adjust the RF signal at the RF output from a first state into a second state based on the analogue signal representation and/or the digital signal representation.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: COMET AGInventors: Anton Labanc, Daniel Gruner, André Grede
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Patent number: 11699576Abstract: There is provided a filter device. In the filter device, a plurality of coils are arranged coaxially. Each of a plurality of wirings is electrically connected to one end of each of the coils. Each of a plurality of capacitors is connected between the other end of each of the coils and the ground. A housing is electrically grounded and configured to accommodate therein the coils. Further, each of the wirings at least partially extends into the housing and has a length that is adjustable in the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2019Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventor: Naohiko Okunishi
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Patent number: 11670523Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a substrate holder, a processing liquid supplying unit with a liquid nozzle discharging a processing liquid to an upper surface of the substrate. A moving unit moves the supplying unit between a process position at which the liquid nozzle faces the upper surface of the substrate and a retreat position. The supplying unit includes a first flow path in the processing liquid nozzle. The first flow path has one end part and the other end part that face a central region of the substrate and a peripheral region of the substrate, respectively, in a state where the supplying unit is positioned at the process position. It has a second flow path that supplies the processing liquid to the one end part, and a plurality of discharge ports in the processing liquid nozzle that are arranged along the first flow path direction and discharge the processing liquid in the first flow path to the substrate's upper surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Inventors: Takashi Ota, Tomoaki Aihara, Masayuki Hayashi, Jiro Okuda, Kunio Yamada
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Patent number: 11670522Abstract: According to one embodiment, a processing liquid generator capable of improving the reliability of the concentration of generated processing liquid is provided.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2017Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATIONInventors: Konosuke Hayashi, Kunihiro Miyazaki
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Patent number: 11646178Abstract: A controller of a plasma processing apparatus stores a frequency spectrum related to a first timing into a storage unit, controls a microwave generator to generate a microwave in correspondence to a setting frequency, setting power, and a setting bandwidth at a second timing, controls a demodulator to measure travelling wave power and reflected wave power of the microwave for each frequency, calculates the frequency spectrum related to the second timing on the basis of a measurement result from the demodulator, calculates a correction value for correcting a waveform of the travelling wave power for each frequency such that a difference for each frequency between the frequency spectrum related to the second timing and the frequency spectrum related to the first timing, stored in the storage unit, is small, and controls the microwave generator on the basis of the calculated correction value for each frequency.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Yuji Onuma, Hideo Kato
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Patent number: 11637026Abstract: A substrate liquid processing apparatus includes an inner tub 34A having a top opening and storing a processing liquid therein; an outer tub 34B provided outside the inner tub; a first cover body 71 configured to move between a closing position where a first region of the top opening is closed and an opening position where the first region is opened; and a second cover body 72 configured to move between a closing position where a second region of the top opening is closed and an opening position where the second region is opened. The first cover body has a bottom wall 711R and a sidewall 712R extended upwards therefrom, and the second cover body has a bottom wall 721R and a sidewall 722R extended upwards therefrom. Further, when being placed at the closing positions, the sidewalls closely face each other with a gap G having a height H.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2018Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITEDInventors: Hiroyuki Masutomi, Takashi Ikeda
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Patent number: 11621150Abstract: A system includes an electrode. The electrode includes a showerhead having a first stem portion and a head portion. A plurality of dielectric layers is vertically stacked between the electrode and a first surface of a conducting structure. The plurality of dielectric layers includes M dielectric layers arranged adjacent to the head portion and P dielectric portions arranged around the first stem portion. The plurality of dielectric layers defines a first gap between the electrode and one of the plurality of dielectric layers, a second gap between adjacent ones of the plurality of dielectric layers, and a third gap between a last one of the plurality of dielectric layers and the first surface. A number of the plurality of dielectric layers and sizes of the first gap, the second gap, and the third gap are selected to prevent parasitic plasma between the first surface and the electrode.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Douglas Keil, Edward J. Augustyniak, Karl Frederick Leeser, Mohamed Sabri