Patents Examined by Rakesh K Dhingra
  • Patent number: 10861679
    Abstract: A processing system is disclosed having a radio frequency (RF) power system coupled to a process chamber via a transmission line. The RF power system is configured to generate RF power at a RF operating frequency. The processing system also includes a resonant structure arranged within the plasma processing chamber that includes at least one resonant substructure configured to resonate according to at least two different resonant modes when at least one resonant frequency associated with at least one of the modes is at or near the RF operating frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Barton Lane
  • Patent number: 10847350
    Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus includes: a rotation table installed in a vacuum container, the rotation table mounting a substrate in a mounting area formed in one surface side of the rotation table and revolving the substrate; a heater that heats the rotation table; a plasma processing part that generates a plasma in a plasma generation region, which is formed in the one surface side of the rotation table at a region through which the substrate passes, and processes the substrate; a temperature measurement terminal installed in the rotation table at a region, which passes through a position facing the plasma generation region when the rotation table is rotated, the temperature measurement terminal outputting a temperature measurement result of the rotation table as an electric signal; and a conductive plasma shield part installed to cover the temperature measurement terminal when viewed from the plasma generation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Soichi Kanno
  • Patent number: 10847341
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber, a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to face each other, a high frequency power supply unit for applying a high frequency power to either the first electrode or the second electrode, a processing gas supply unit for supplying a processing gas to a processing space, and a main dielectric member provided at a substrate mounting portion on a main surface of the first electrode. A focus ring is attached to the first electrode to cover a peripheral portion of the main surface of the first electrode and a peripheral dielectric member is provided in a peripheral portion on the main surface of the first electrode so that an electrostatic capacitance per unit area applied between the first electrode and the focus ring is smaller than that applied between the first electrode and the substrate by the main dielectric member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Chishio Koshimizu, Naoki Matsumoto, Satoshi Tanaka, Toru Ito
  • Patent number: 10825659
    Abstract: A gas injector for a substrate processing system includes a first injector housing including a base portion defining a first gas flow channel; a projecting portion extending from the base portion; and a second gas flow channel extending through the base portion and the projecting portion. The gas injector includes a second injector housing including a first cavity including a first opening, a second opening and a first plurality of gas through holes arranged around the second opening. The first gas flow channel communicates with the first plurality of gas through holes. The second injector housing includes a second cavity that includes a second plurality of gas through holes and that extends from the second opening of the first cavity. The second gas flow channel communicates with the second plurality of gas through holes. Gas in the first and second gas flow channels flows into a processing chamber without mixing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Lee Treadwell, Ivelin Angelov, Linda Marquez, Cristian Siladie
  • Patent number: 10825700
    Abstract: The invention provides a plasma processing apparatus which includes a processing chamber, a radio frequency power source to supply a radio frequency power for plasma generation, a sample stage equipped with an electrostatic chuck electrode of a sample, a DC power source to apply a DC voltage to the electrode, and a control unit to change the DC voltage from a predetermined value to almost 0 V when a predetermined time elapses since the supplying of the radio frequency power is stopped. The predetermined value is a predetermined value indicating that a potential of the sample when the DC voltage is almost 0 V becomes almost 0 V. The predetermined time is a time defined on the basis of a time when charged particles generated by the plasma processing disappear or a time when an afterglow discharge disappears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Ishiguro, Masahiro Sumiya
  • Patent number: 10818479
    Abstract: A grounding cap module includes a main body, a frame portion, and a cap portion. The main body includes a first opening penetrating the main body and a grounding portion disposed on a periphery of the main body and configured to be electrically grounded. The frame portion is disposed on the main body and includes a second opening aligned with the first opening. The cap portion is disposed on the frame portion and covers the second opening, wherein the first opening, the second opening and the cap portion define a receiving cavity. A gas injection device and an etching apparatus using the same are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Ltd.
    Inventors: Li-Shi Liu, Shih-Tsung Chen
  • Patent number: 10818535
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plasma processing-apparatus processing object support platform includes a lower plate, an upper plate, and a variable condenser. The lower plate is electrically conductive. The upper plate is provided on the lower plate. A processing object is placed on an upper surface of the upper plate. The variable condenser is provided along a circumferential direction of the lower plate in a region at an upper outer circumferential vicinity of the lower plate. The region has an annular configuration. The variable condenser includes a first capacitance element and a second capacitance element disposed respectively on an inner circumferential side and an outer circumferential side in the region having the annular configuration. Mutually-different control voltages are suppliable to the first capacitance element and the second capacitance element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Toshiba Memory Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Eto
  • Patent number: 10811234
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes supporting members, connecting members and a sliding member. Each of the supporting members is partially disposed in a disc-shaped cooling plate and configured to support an upper electrode in a direction of gravity. Each of the connecting members is partially disposed in the cooling plate and extends in a diametrical direction of the cooling plate to be engaged with the corresponding supporting member. The sliding member is configured to slide the connecting members inward in the diametrical direction of the cooling plate, thereby pushing upward the supporting member and lifting the upper electrode to the cooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Shin Matsuura, Jun Young Chung
  • Patent number: 10804080
    Abstract: The reliability of a plasma processing apparatus can be improved, and the yield of plasma processing can be improved. A plasma etching apparatus 100 has a susceptor ring 113 covering the surface of a sample stage, a conductor ring 131 disposed in the interior of the susceptor ring 113 and to which second high frequency electric power is supplied from a second high frequency power source, and an electric power supply connector 161 configuring a path for supplying the second high frequency electric power to the conductor ring 131. Further, the electric power supply connector 161 includes a plate spring 135 disposed in the interior of an insulating boss 144 disposed in a through hole 120c of the sample stage and having resiliency in such a manner that the plate spring 135 is connected to an upper terminal 143 and a lower terminal 145, is biased in an up-down direction P, and is expanded and contracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tooru Aramaki, Kenetsu Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 10804120
    Abstract: A temperature controller of a plasma-processing apparatus including a heating unit and a cooling unit. The heating unit is configured to heat a liner on an inner surface of a plasma chamber in which a plasma is formed. The cooling unit is configured to cool the liner to controls a temperature of an upper electrode in the plasma chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong-Moon Ha, Min-Kyu Sung, Seung-Hee Cho, Seong-Chul Choi, Kyung-Sun Kim, Sang-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 10796916
    Abstract: A processing system is disclosed, having a power transmission element with an interior cavity that propagates electromagnetic energy proximate to a continuous slit in the interior cavity. The continuous slit forms an opening between the interior cavity and a substrate processing chamber. The electromagnetic energy may generate an alternating charge in the continuous slit that enables the generation of an electric field that may propagate into the processing chamber. The electromagnetic energy may be conditioned prior to entering the interior cavity to improve uniformity or stability of the electric field. The conditioning may include, but is not limited to, phase angle, field angle, and number of feeds into the interior cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Merritt Funk, Jianping Zhao, Lee Chen
  • Patent number: 10770328
    Abstract: Apparatus for processing a substrate is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support may include a substrate support having a support surface for supporting a substrate the substrate support having a central axis; a first electrode disposed within the substrate support to provide RF power to a substrate when disposed on the support surface; an inner conductor coupled to the first electrode about a center of a surface of the first electrode opposing the support surface, wherein the inner conductor is tubular and extends from the first electrode parallel to and about the central axis in a direction away from the support surface of the substrate support; an outer conductor disposed about the inner conductor; and an outer dielectric layer disposed between the inner and outer conductors, the outer dielectric layer electrically isolating the outer conductor from the inner conductor. The outer conductor may be coupled to electrical ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Xing Lin, Douglas A. Buchberger, Jr., Xiaoping Zhou, Andrew Nguyen, Anchel Sheyner
  • Patent number: 10770329
    Abstract: A gas flow is described to reduce condensation with a substrate processing chuck. In one example, a workpiece holder in the chamber having a puck to carry the workpiece for fabrication processes, a top plate thermally coupled to the puck, a cooling plate fastened to and thermally coupled to the top plate, the cooling plate having a cooling channel to carry a heat transfer fluid to transfer heat from the cooling plate, a base plate fastened to the cooling plate opposite the puck, and a dry gas inlet of the base plate to supply a dry gas under pressure to a space between the base plate and the cooling plate to drive ambient air from between the base plate and the cooling plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hun Sang Kim, Michael D. Willwerth
  • Patent number: 10755899
    Abstract: The inventive concepts provide a substrate treating apparatus. The apparatus includes a process chamber, a substrate support unit, a gas supply unit, a microwave applying unit, an antenna plate, a slow-wave plate, a dielectric plate, and an exhaust baffle, and a liner. The liner includes a body having a ring shape facing an inner sidewall of the process chamber, and a flange extending from the body into a wall portion of the process chamber. The flange prevents an electric field of a microwave and a process gas from being provided into a gap between the process chamber and the body. Thus, it is possible to inhibit particles from being generated by damage of the inner sidewall of the process chamber by plasma, and drift distances of the particles can be reduced to inhibit the particles from reaching a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SEMES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Su Jang, Sun Rae Kim, Sung Hwan Hong
  • Patent number: 10752994
    Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a coating on a substrate at atmospheric pressure comprises (a) a plasma torch comprising a microwave source coupled to an antenna disposed within a chamber having an open end, the chamber comprising a gas inlet for flow of a gas over the antenna to generate a plasma jet; (b) a substrate positioned outside the open end of the chamber a predetermined distance away from a tip of the antenna; and (c) a target material to be coated on the substrate disposed at the tip of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
    Inventors: David N. Ruzic, Yuilun Wu, Ivan Shchelkanov, Jungmi Hong, Zihao Ouyang, Tae Seung Cho
  • Patent number: 10748745
    Abstract: Embodiments include a modular microwave source. In an embodiment, the modular microwave source comprises a voltage control circuit, a voltage controlled oscillator, where an output voltage from the voltage control circuit drives oscillation in the voltage controlled oscillator. The modular microwave source may also include a solid state microwave amplification module coupled to the voltage controlled oscillator. In an embodiment, the solid state microwave amplification module amplifies an output from the voltage controlled oscillator. The modular microwave source may also include an applicator coupled to the solid state microwave amplification module, where the applicator is a dielectric resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Allan Kraus, Thai Cheng Chua
  • Patent number: 10734198
    Abstract: A microwave plasma reactor for manufacturing synthetic diamond material via chemical vapour deposition, the microwave plasma reactor comprising: a plasma chamber defining a resonant cavity for supporting a primary microwave resonance mode having a primary microwave resonance mode frequency f; a plurality of microwave sources coupled to the plasma chamber for generating and feeding microwaves having a total microwave power P? into the plasma chamber; a gas flow system for feeding process gases into the plasma chamber and removing them therefrom; and a substrate holder disposed in the plasma chamber and comprising a supporting surface for supporting a substrate on which the synthetic diamond material is to be deposited in use, wherein the plurality of microwave sources are configured to couple at least 30% of the total microwave power P? into the plasma chamber in the primary microwave resonance mode frequency f, and wherein at least some of the plurality of microwave sources are solid state microwave sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Element Six Technologies Limited
    Inventors: John Robert Brandon, Ian Friel, Michael Andrew Cooper, Geoffrey Alan Scarsbrook, Ben Llewlyn Green
  • Patent number: 10734197
    Abstract: A plasma process apparatus that utilizes plasma so as to perform a predetermined process on a substrate, and includes a process chamber that houses a substrate subjected to the predetermined plasma process; a microwave generator; a dielectric window attached to the process chamber and provided with a concave portion provided at an outer surface of the dielectric window opposite to the process chamber and a through hole penetrating the dielectric window to the process chamber; a microwave transmission line; and a first process gas supplying portion including a gas conduit including a first portion provided at a front end and a second portion having a larger diameter than the first portion, the gas conduit being inserted from outside of the process chamber such that the first portion is inserted in the through hole and the second portion is inserted in the concave portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Masahide Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10734199
    Abstract: A microwave plasma generating device for plasma oxidation of SiC, comprising an outer cavity and a plurality of micro-hole/micro-nano-structured double-coupling resonant cavities disposed in the outer cavity. Each resonant cavity includes a cylindrical cavity. A micro-hole array formed by a plurality of micro-holes is uniformly distributed on a peripheral wall of the cylindrical cavity, a diameter of each of the micro-holes is an odd multiple of wavelength, and an inner wall of the cylindrical cavity has a metal micro-nano structure, the metal micro-nano structure has a periodic dimension of ?/n, where ? is wavelength of an incident wave, and n is refractive index of material of the resonant cavity. The outer cavity is provided with an gas inlet for conveying an oxygen-containing gas into the outer cavity, and the oxygen-containing gas forms an oxygen plasma around the resonant cavities for oxidizing SiC; a stage is disposed under the resonant cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF MICROELECTRONICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Xinyu Liu, Yidan Tang, Shengkai Wang, Yun Bai, Chengyue Yang
  • Patent number: 10727088
    Abstract: The present invention provides a plasma processing apparatus having a radio frequency power supply supplying time-modulated radio frequency power which is controllable widely with high precision, and a plasma processing method using the plasma processing apparatus. The plasma processing apparatus includes: a vacuum chamber; a first radio frequency power supply for generating plasma in the vacuum chamber; a sample holder disposed in the vacuum chamber, on which a sample is placed; and a second radio frequency power supply supplying radio frequency power to the sample holder, wherein at least one of the first radio frequency power supply and the second radio frequency power supply supplies time-modulated radio frequency power, one of parameters of controlling the time-modulation has two or more different control ranges, and one of the control ranges is a control range for a high-precision control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michikazu Morimoto, Yasuo Ohgoshi, Yuuzou Oohirabaru, Tetsuo Ono