Patents Examined by Michael Band
  • Patent number: 11149345
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a rotatable electrostatic chuck. In some embodiments, a rotatable electrostatic chuck includes a dielectric disk having at least one chucking electrode and a plurality of coolant channels; a cryogenic manifold coupled to the dielectric disk and having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet both of which are fluidly coupled to the plurality of coolant channels; a shaft assembly coupled to the cryogenic manifold; a cryogenic supply chamber coupled to the shaft assembly; a supply tube coupled to the cryogenic supply chamber and to the coolant inlet to supply the cryogenic medium to the plurality of coolant channels, wherein the supply tube extends through the central opening of the shaft assembly; and a return tube coupled to the coolant outlet and to the cryogenic supply chamber, wherein the supply tube is disposed within the return tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Shardul Patel, Robert Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11131019
    Abstract: An apparatus for coating substrates includes a vacuum chamber having an opening through which substrates can be received and a door configured to seal the opening; one or more targets arranged in the vacuum chamber; a cooling unit configured to cool the substrates and/or a heating unit configured to heat the substrates; rotating means configured to rotate substrates relative to the one or more targets, the cooling unit and/or the heating unit; and a lifting chamber that communicates with the interior of the vacuum chamber and is configured to receive the cooling unit and the heating unit. The vacuum chamber defines a lifting axis along which the cooling unit and/or the heating unit and the lifting chamber are arranged, and the apparatus further comprises displacement means configured to displace the cooling unit and/or the heating unit along the lifting axis and between the vacuum chamber and the lifting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Inventors: Don Derckx, Dave Doerwald, Ruud Jacobs, Marijn Gelten
  • Patent number: 11131921
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a reflective mask blank comprising a multilayer reflective film formed on a substrate so as to reflect EUV light; and a laminated film formed on the multilayer reflective film. The method includes the steps of depositing the multilayer reflective film on the substrate to form a multilayer reflective film formed substrate; carrying out defect inspection for the multilayer reflective film formed substrate; depositing the laminated film on the multilayer reflective film of the multilayer reflective film formed substrate; forming a fiducial mark for an upper portion of the laminated film to thereby form a reflective mask blank comprising the fiducial mark, the fiducial mark serving as a reference for a defect position in defect information; and carrying out defect inspection of the reflective mask blank by using the fiducial mark as a reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Shoki, Kazuhiro Hamamoto, Yohei Ikebe
  • Patent number: 11127574
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a conveyance unit that has a rotator in a vacuum container, and circulating carries a workpiece by the rotator along a circular conveyance path, a cylindrical member extended in a direction toward the conveyance path in the vacuum container, a window member that divides a gas space where a process gas is introduced and an exterior, and an antenna causing the process gas to generate inductive coupling plasma for plasma processing when power is applied. The cylindrical member is provided with an opposing part with the opening and faces the rotator, a dividing wall is provided between the opposing part and the rotator so as not to contact the opposing part and the rotator and not to move relative to the vacuum container, and the dividing wall is provided with an adjustment opening that faces the opening, and adjusts a range of the plasma processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SHIBAURA MECHATRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshio Kawamata, Yu Kambe
  • Patent number: 11114289
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to an anode for a semiconductor processing chamber. More specifically, embodiments described herein relate to a process kit including a shield serving as an anode in a physical deposition chamber. The shield has a cylindrical band, the cylindrical band having a top and a bottom, the cylindrical band sized to encircle a sputtering surface of a sputtering target disposed adjacent the top and a substrate support disposed at the bottom, the cylindrical band having an interior surface. A texture is disposed on the interior surface. The texture has a plurality of features. A shaded area is disposed in the feature wherein the shaded area is not visible to the sputtering target. A small anode surface is disposed in the shaded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Cox, Lara Hawrylchak, Brian T. West
  • Patent number: 11098401
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of forming wiring of a substrate includes masking a substrate side portion, on which the wiring will be formed, by attaching a deposition mask to the substrate; and forming the wiring on the substrate side portion based on sputtering after introducing the masked substrate into a chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: TETOS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun Ho Song, Yeong Ung Park
  • Patent number: 11091830
    Abstract: To provide a moth-eye transfer mold and a method of manufacturing a moth-eye transfer mold that provide a simple and inexpensive manufacturing process. A moth-eye transfer mold 1 is characterized by including a base 10, an underlayer 20 formed on the base 10, and a glassy carbon layer 30 formed on the underlayer 20, the glassy carbon layer 30 has an inverted moth-eye structure RM over a surface 30a, and the inverted moth-eye structure RM is randomly arranged cone-shaped pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignees: Tokyo University of Science Foundation, GEOMATEC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Taniguchi, Hiroyuki Sugawara
  • Patent number: 11094515
    Abstract: A sputtering apparatus has a vacuum chamber capable of arranging a target material and a substrate therein so as to face each other, a DC power supply capable of electrically being connected to the target material, and a pulsing unit pulsing electric current flowing in the target material from the DC power supply, in which plasma is generated in the vacuum chamber to form a thin film on the substrate, including an ammeter measuring electric current flowing in the pulsing unit from the DC power supply, a power supply controller performing feedback control of the DC power supply so that a current value measured by the ammeter becomes a prescribed value and a pulse controller indicating a pulse cycle shifted from a control cycle of the DC power supply by the power supply controller to the pulsing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daisuke Suetsugu, Masaaki Tanabe, Akira Okuda, Yosimasa Takii
  • Patent number: 11081325
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a conductive target material comprising essentially one lithium compound, preferably lithium phosphate, and carbon, and also typical impurities. The invention further relates to a process for producing a conductive target material and to the use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: Plansee SE, Plansee Composite Materials GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Polcik, Enrico Franzke, Marcus Wolff
  • Patent number: 11081324
    Abstract: The sputtering cathode has a tubular shape having a pair of long sides facing each other in cross-sectional shape, has a sputtering target whose erosion surface faces inward, and a magnetic circuit is provided along the sputtering target. The pair of long sides are constituted by rotary targets each having a cylindrical shape. The rotary target is internally provided with a magnetic circuit and configured to allow the flow of cooling water. The magnetic circuit is provided parallel to the central axis of the rotary target and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a long side perpendicular to the radial direction of the rotary target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: KEIHIN RAMTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 11081323
    Abstract: The sputtering cathode has a tubular shape having a pair of long sides facing each other in cross-sectional shape, has a sputtering target whose erosion surface faces inward, and a magnetic circuit is provided along the sputtering target. The pair of long sides are constituted by rotary targets each having a cylindrical shape. The rotary target is internally provided with a magnetic circuit and configured to allow the flow of cooling water. The magnetic circuit is provided parallel to the central axis of the rotary target and has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a long side perpendicular to the radial direction of the rotary target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Keihin Ramtech Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Iwata
  • Patent number: 11060181
    Abstract: A method for coating substrates with a decorative layer of hard material which is guided into a vacuum coating chamber. The decorative layer of hard material is deposited by a reactive HIPIMS-process, and the energy content in the power pulses is controlled in such a manner that the deposited layer of hard material has a homogeneous colour, a high degree of smoothness and a high strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: OERLIKON SURFACE SOLUTIONS AG, PFAFFIKON
    Inventor: Siegfried Krassnitzer
  • Patent number: 11056323
    Abstract: A sputtering apparatus is provided with: a vacuum chamber having a target manufactured by sintering raw material powder; a magnet unit having a plurality of magnets disposed on the same surface above the target which is mounted on the vacuum chamber in a non-rotatable manner, in order to cause leakage magnetic field penetrating the target to function in uneven distribution on the sputtering surface; a rotary shaft which is disposed on the center line passing through the center of the target and is coupled to the magnet unit; and a drive motor for driving the rotary shaft to rotate, thereby rotating the magnet unit such that a function region of the leakage magnetic field on the sputtering surface revolves about an imaginary circle with the center of the target serving as the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: ULVAC, INC.
    Inventors: Shinya Nakamura, Yukihito Tashiro
  • Patent number: 11049701
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing and eliminating accumulation of excessive charged particles from substrate processing systems are provided herein. In some embodiments a process kit for a substrate process chamber includes: a cover ring having a body and a lip extending radially inward from the body, wherein the body has a bottom, a first wall, and a second wall, and wherein a first channel is formed between the second wall and the lip; a grounded shield having a lower inwardly extending ledge that terminates in an upwardly extending portion configured to interface with the first channel of the cover ring; and a bias power receiver coupled to the body and extending through an opening in the grounded shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Adolph Miller Allen, William Johanson, Viachslav Babayan, Zhong Qiang Hua, Carl R. Johnson, Vanessa Faune, Jingjing Liu, Vaibhav Soni, Kirankumar Savandaiah, Sundarapandian Ramalinga Vijayalaks Reddy
  • Patent number: 11043364
    Abstract: Embodiments of a process kit for use in a multi-cathode process chamber are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a process kit includes a rotatable shield having a base, a conical portion extend downward and radially outward from the base, and a collar portion extending radially outward from a bottom of the conical portion; an inner deposition ring having a leg portion, a flat portion extending radially inward from the leg portion, a first recessed portion extending radially inward from the flat portion, and a first lip extending upward from an innermost section of the first recessed portion; and an outer deposition ring having a collar portion, an upper flat portion disposed above and extending radially inward from the collar portion, a second recessed portion extending inward from the upper flat portion, and a second lip extending upward from an innermost section of the second recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hanbing Wu, Anantha K. Subramani, Ashish Goel, Deepak Jadhav, Rongjun Wang, Chi Hong Ching
  • Patent number: 11035034
    Abstract: The present invention provides a film formation method and a film formation apparatus which can fabricate an epitaxial film with +c polarity by a sputtering method. In one embodiment of the present invention, the film formation method of epitaxially growing a semiconductor thin film with a wurtzite structure by the sputtering method on an epitaxial growth substrate heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater includes the following steps. First, the substrate is disposed on a substrate holding portion including the heater to be located at a predetermined distance away from the heater. Then, the epitaxial film of the semiconductor film with the wurtzite structure is formed on the substrate with the impedance of the substrate holding portion being adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Daigo, Takuya Seino, Yoshitaka Ohtsuka, Hiroyuki Makita, Sotaro Ishibashi, Kazuto Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 11037768
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the ion fraction in physical vapor deposition processes are disclosed. In some embodiments, a process chamber for processing a substrate having a given diameter includes: an interior volume and a target to be sputtered, the interior volume including a central portion and a peripheral portion; a rotatable magnetron above the target to form an annular plasma in the peripheral portion; a substrate support disposed in the interior volume to support a substrate having the given diameter; a first set of magnets disposed about the body to form substantially vertical magnetic field lines in the peripheral portion; a second set of magnets disposed about the body and above the substrate support to form magnetic field lines directed toward a center of the support surface; a first power source to electrically bias the target; and a second power source to electrically bias the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Wang, Joung Joo Lee, Fuhong Zhang, Martin Lee Riker, Keith A. Miller, William Fruchterman, Rongjun Wang, Adolph Miller Allen, Shouyin Zhang, Xianmin Tang
  • Patent number: 11008651
    Abstract: A DC magnetron sputtering apparatus is for depositing a film on a substrate. The apparatus includes a chamber, a substrate support positioned within the chamber, a DC magnetron, and an electrical signal supply device for supplying an electrical bias signal that, in use, causes ions to bombard a substrate positioned on the substrate support. The substrate support includes a central region surrounded by an edge region, the central region being raised with respect to the edge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SPTS TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Scott Haymore, Amit Rastogi, Rhonda Hyndman, Steve Burgess, Ian Moncrieff, Chris Kendal
  • Patent number: 11004656
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of an ion beam sample preparation and coating apparatus and methods. A sample may be prepared in one or more ion beams and then a coating may be sputtered onto the prepared sample within the same apparatus. A vacuum transfer device may be used with the apparatus in order to transfer a sample into and out of the apparatus while in a controlled environment. Various methods to improve preparation and coating uniformity are disclosed including: rotating the sample retention stage; modulating the sample retention stage; variable tilt ion beam irradiating means, more than one ion beam irradiating means, coating thickness monitoring, selective shielding of the sample, and modulating the coating donor holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Gatan, Inc.
    Inventors: John Andrew Hunt, Steven Thomas Coyle, Michael Patrick Hassel-Shearer, Thijs C Hosman
  • Patent number: 10995400
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for making a coated article including an antibacterial and/or antifungal coating. In certain example embodiments, the method includes providing a first sputtering target including Zr; providing a second sputtering target including Zn; and co-sputtering from at least the first and second sputtering targets in the presence of nitrogen to form a layer including ZnxZryNz on a glass substrate. These layers may be heat-treated or thermally tempered to form a single layer including ZnxZryOz. In other examples, two discrete layers of Zn and Zr may be formed. The coating may be heated or tempered to form a single layer including ZnxZryOz. Coated articles made using these methods may have antibacterial and/or antifungal properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Guardian Glass, LLC
    Inventors: Rudolph Hugo Petrmichl, Jiangping Wang, Jason Barber