Patents Examined by Rakesh K Dhingra
  • Patent number: 10290469
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus having an improved coil antenna assembly that can provide enhanced plasma in a processing chamber is provided. The improved coil antenna assembly enhances positional control of plasma location within a plasma processing chamber, and may be utilized in etch, deposition, implant, and thermal processing systems, among other applications where the control of plasma location is desirable. In one embodiment, an electrode assembly configured to use in a semiconductor processing apparatus includes a RF conductive connector, and a conductive member having a first end electrically connected to the RF conductive connector, wherein the conductive member extends outward and vertically from the RF conductive connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Valentin N. Todorow, Gary Leray, Michael D. Willwerth, Li-Sheng Chiang
  • Patent number: 10290471
    Abstract: A device is provided for generating plasma by microwaves for CVD coating a substrate having a vacuum container into which a reaction gas can be fed and an electrical conductor arranged therein which is connected on each of both ends thereof to a device for coupling microwaves and to a voltage source with which a difference of potential can generated between the electrical conductor and the surrounding vacuum container. The electrical conductor is electrically insulated from the devices for coupling microwaves. The electrical conductor has a rod-shaped design or a curved run. The electrical conductor is connected to the voltage source via a feedthrough filter. The device for coupling microwaves expands in a funnel shape toward the electrical conductor and is partially or completely filled by a dielectric material. The device for coupling microwaves has groove-shaped recesses running along a circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Muegge GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Muegge, Klaus-Martin Baumgärtner, Mathias Kaiser, Lukas Alberts
  • Patent number: 10283321
    Abstract: Substrate processing systems are described that have a capacitively coupled plasma (CCP) unit positioned inside a process chamber. The CCP unit may include a plasma excitation region formed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode may include a first plurality of openings to permit a first gas to enter the plasma excitation region, and the second electrode may include a second plurality of openings to permit an activated gas to exit the plasma excitation region. The system may further include a gas inlet for supplying the first gas to the first electrode of the CCP unit, and a pedestal that is operable to support a substrate. The pedestal is positioned below a gas reaction region into which the activated gas travels from the CCP unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jang-Gyoo Yang, Matthew L. Miller, Xinglong Chen, Kien N. Chuc, Qiwei Liang, Shankar Venkataraman, Dmitry Lubomirsky
  • Patent number: 10283328
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plasma processing apparatus including a chamber configured to perform a processing on a wafer by plasma, a VF power supply configured to change a frequency of a high frequency power to be supplied into the chamber, a susceptor configured to mount the wafer thereon, and a focus ring disposed to surround the wafer. A first route, which passes through the plasma starting from the VF power supply, passes through the susceptor, the wafer and the plasma, and a second route, which passes through the plasma starting from the VF power supply, passes through the susceptor, the focus ring and the plasma. The reflection minimum frequency of the first route is different from the reflection minimum frequency of the second route, and the frequency range changeable by the VF power supply includes the reflection minimum frequencies of the first and second routes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Jun Yamawaku, Chishio Koshimizu, Tatsuo Matsudo
  • Patent number: 10283322
    Abstract: According to the process, the filiform component is continuously linearly moved through magnetic dipoles arranged opposite each other and around a tube constituting a treatment chamber, and the microwave energy is introduced between at least two magnetic dipoles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: H.E.F, LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (LIST)
    Inventors: Patrick Choquet, David Duday, Olivier Blandenet, Thierry Leon Lagarde
  • Patent number: 10276349
    Abstract: A plasma processing device is provided. The plasma processing device includes a plate formed between a window covering a top portion of a chamber where plasma processing is performed and an antenna generating a magnetic field, and a fluid supply unit supplying a fluid for controlling temperatures of the window and the antenna, wherein the plate includes first and second regions supplied with the fluid, and the fluid supply unit independently controls the first and second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hak-Young Kim, Ji-Myoung Lee, Ji-Hee Kim, Doug-Yong Sung, Kyeong-Seok Jeong, Seong-Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 10269541
    Abstract: A plasma reactor has a microwave source including a microwave window with a channel extending through the window and a coolant source for flowing a coolant through the channel. The coolant is a liquid that does not absorb microwave power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Stowell, Qiwei Liang
  • Patent number: 10269543
    Abstract: A lower electrode 2 includes a conductive base member 2a to which a high frequency power is applied; an electrostatic chuck 6, having an insulating layer 6b formed on a top surface of the base member 2a to cover an electrode 6a, configured to electrostatically attract a semiconductor wafer W as a target of a plasma process onto the insulating layer 6b; a focus ring 5 provided on a top surface of the insulating layer 6b of the electrostatic chuck 6 to surround the semiconductor wafer W; and a thermally sprayed film 100, which is conductive and formed on a portion of the insulating layer 6b of the electrostatic chuck 6 positioned between the focus ring 5 and the base member 2a by using a composite material in which titania is added to an insulating material for the insulating layer at a preset weight ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Takashi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10256079
    Abstract: An exemplary system may include a chamber configured to contain a semiconductor substrate in a processing region of the chamber. The system may include a first remote plasma unit fluidly coupled with a first access of the chamber and configured to deliver a first precursor into the chamber through the first access. The system may still further include a second remote plasma unit fluidly coupled with a second access of the chamber and configured to deliver a second precursor into the chamber through the second access. The first and second access may be fluidly coupled with a mixing region of the chamber that is separate from and fluidly coupled with the processing region of the chamber. The mixing region may be configured to allow the first and second precursors to interact with each other externally from the processing region of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dmitry Lubomirsky, Xinglong Chen, Shankar Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 10246776
    Abstract: A layer-forming device that enables highly efficient layer formation and has a simplified configuration includes: a substrate feeding mechanism; a plasma-generating electrode; a space-partitioning wall; and a plurality of injectors. The plasma-generating electrode faces towards a feeding pathway of the substrate, and generates plasma using a reactive gas upon a supply of electric power. The space-partitioning wall is disposed between the feeding pathway and the plasma-generating electrode. A plurality of slit-shaped through-holes, through which radicals, ions generated from the plasma, or a portion of the plasma can pass, are formed at predetermined intervals in the space-partitioning wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUI E&S MACHINERY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yasunari Mori, Naomasa Miyatake, Nozomu Hattori
  • Patent number: 10233540
    Abstract: A loader device for loading porous substrates of three-dimensional shapes extending mainly in a longitudinal direction into a reaction chamber of an infiltration oven for densification of the preforms by directed flow chemical vapor infiltration. The device comprising at least one annular loader stage formed by first and second annular vertical walls arranged coaxially relative to each other and defining between them an annular loader space for the porous substrates to be densified. First and second plates respectively cover the bottom portion and the top portion of the annular loader space. The first and second annular vertical walls include support elements arranged in the annular loader space so as to define between them unit loader cells, each for receiving a respective substrate to be densified. The device also comprises gas feed orifices and gas exhaust orifices in the vicinity of each unit loader cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SAFRAN CERAMICS
    Inventors: Sébastien Bertrand, Franck Lamouroux, Stéphane Goujard
  • Patent number: 10229814
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus has a circular chamber having an opening portion which serves as a plasma ejection port surrounded by a dielectric member, a gas supply pipe for introducing gas into the inside of the chamber, a coil provided in the vicinity of the chamber, a high-frequency power supply connected to the coil, and a base material mounting table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Okumura, Hiroshi Kawaura, Tetsuya Yukimoto
  • Patent number: 10217611
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus or a plasma processing method that processes a wafer to be processed, which is placed on a surface of a sample stage arranged in a processing chamber inside a vacuum container, using a plasma formed in the processing chamber, the apparatus or method including processing the wafer by adjusting a first high-frequency power to be supplied to a first electrode arranged inside the sample stage and a second high-frequency power to be supplied, via a resonant circuit, to a second electrode which is arranged in an inner side of a ring-shaped member made of a dielectric arranged on an outer peripheral side of a surface of the sample stage on which the wafer is placed, during the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Tooru Aramaki, Kenetsu Yokogawa, Masaru Izawa
  • Patent number: 10211032
    Abstract: A microwave plasma source radiating a microwave in a chamber of a plasma processing apparatus to generate surface wave plasma includes a microwave output unit configured to generate and output a microwave, a microwave supply unit configured to transmit the microwave output from the microwave output unit, and a microwave radiation member configured as a ceiling wall of the chamber and configured to radiate the microwave supplied from the microwave supply unit into the chamber. The microwave supply unit includes microwave introduction mechanisms provided along a circumferential direction, thereby introducing the microwave to the microwave radiation member. The microwave radiation member includes slot antennas having slots through which the microwave is radiated and a microwave transmission member. The slots are provided to form a circular shape as a whole. The microwave transmission member provided to form a circular ring shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomohito Komatsu, Taro Ikeda, Yutaka Fujino
  • Patent number: 10211033
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to apparatus and methods for symmetry in electrical field, gas flow and thermal distribution in a processing chamber to achieve process uniformity. Embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plasma processing chamber having a plasma source, a substrate support assembly and a vacuum pump aligned along the same central axis to create substantially symmetrical flow paths, electrical field, and thermal distribution in the plasma processing chamber resulting in improved process uniformity and reduced skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Nguyen, Yogananda Sarode Vishwanath, Tom K. Cho
  • Patent number: 10184192
    Abstract: An apparatus for growing diamonds, the apparatus comprising: one or more chambers, each chamber is in fluid connection with one or more other chambers, each chamber comprising one or more substrate stage assembly within the chamber to support a substrate stage having a plurality of diamond seeds disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: SUNSET PEAK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Devi Shanker Misra
  • Patent number: 10186444
    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: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hun Sang Kim, Michael D. Willwerth
  • Patent number: 10177014
    Abstract: An apparatus for a substrate support heater and associated chamber components having reduced energy losses are provided. In one embodiment, a substrate support heater is provided. The substrate support heater includes a heater body having a first surface to receive a substrate and a second surface opposing the first surface, a heating element disposed in the heater body between the first surface and the second surface, and a thermal barrier disposed on the second surface of the heater body, wherein the thermal barrier comprises a first layer and a second layer disposed on the first layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Govinda Raj, Daniel Martin, Robert T. Hirahara, Ashish Bhatnagar, Bopanna Vasanth, Prashanth Rao, Kadthala R. Narendrnath
  • Patent number: 10170283
    Abstract: There is provided a focus ring formed without an adhesive that can suppress abnormal electric discharge and obtain uniform plasma environment in a circumferential direction in a plasma processing apparatus. The focus ring includes a plurality of arc-shaped members and a plurality of connecting members connecting the plurality of the arc-shaped members to form a ring shape without an adhesive, and is formed such that a thickness between an upper surface of the connecting member and a bottom surface of a concave fitting portion of the connecting member is greater than a thickness between an upper surface of the arc-shaped member and a bottom surface of a second depression of the arc-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: COORSTEK KK
    Inventors: Masahiro Kubota, Takaaki Shima
  • Patent number: 10145013
    Abstract: A wafer carrier for use in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system includes a plurality of wafer retention pockets, each having a peripheral wall surface surrounding a floor surface and defining a periphery of that wafer retention pocket. Each wafer retention pocket has a periphery with a shape defined by at least a first arc having a first radius of curvature situated around a first arc center and a second arc having a second radius of curvature situated around a second arc center. The second arc is different from the first arc, either by its radius of curvature, arc center, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Veeco Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Sandeep Krishnan, Lukas Urban