Patents Examined by Tiffany Nuckols
  • Patent number: 9869392
    Abstract: A lower electrode assembly useful for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a temperature controlled lower base plate, an upper plate, a mounting groove surrounding a bond layer and an edge seal comprising an elastomeric band having an outer concave surface in an uncompressed state, the band mounted in the groove such that upper and lower ends of the band are axially compressed and a maximum outward bulging of the band is no greater than a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Schaefer, Ambarish Chhatre, Keith William Gaff, Sung Lee, Brooke Mesler Lai
  • Patent number: 9831112
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes an electrostatic chuck that includes a chuck electrode and electrostatically attracts a substrate; a direct voltage source that is connected to the chuck electrode and applies a voltage to the chuck electrode; and an evacuation unit that includes a rotor and discharges, via a heat transfer gas discharge pipe, a heat transfer gas supplied to a back surface of the substrate electrostatically-attracted by the electrostatic chuck. The evacuation unit is connected via a power supply line to the direct voltage source, generates regenerative power, and supplies the regenerative power to the direct voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Shingo Koiwa
  • Patent number: 9788464
    Abstract: A power supply device supplies power to a substrate holder having a plurality of electrodes. The device includes a first fixed conductive member, a second fixed conductive member, a fixed insulating member fixed to an insulating housing portion and configured to insulate the first fixed conductive member from the second fixed conductive member, a first rotation conductive member, a second rotation conductive member, a rotation insulating member fixed to an insulating column portion and configured to insulate the first rotation conductive member from the second rotation conductive member, a first power supply member configured to supply a first voltage to the substrate holder via the first rotation conductive member and the first fixed conductive member, and a second power supply member configured to supply a second voltage to the substrate holder via the second rotation conductive member and the second fixed conductive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: CANON ANELVA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kyosuke Sugi
  • Patent number: 9779918
    Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate treating apparatus includes a processing chamber, a substrate supporting unit, a plasma generation unit, a gas supplying unit, an exhaust adjusting unit, or the like. Residual gas and reaction by-products are generated in a chamber after a substrate is treated by using a gas supplied from the gas supplying unit or plasma excited by the plasma generation unit. The gas exhaust adjusting unit adjusts discharge amounts of residual gas and reaction by-products to adjust residence time or pressure of gas, plasma, or the like in the apparatus, thereby controlling a uniformity of the substrate treating process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: PSK INC.
    Inventor: Chang Weon Lee
  • Patent number: 9761473
    Abstract: Provided are a substrate supporting unit and a substrate processing apparatus, and a method of manufacturing the substrate supporting unit. The substrate supporting unit includes a susceptor on which a substrate is placed on a top surface thereof, one or more heat absorbing members which are capable of being converted between a mounted position at which the heat absorbing member is disposed on an upper portion of the susceptor to thermally contact the susceptor and a released position at which the heat absorbing member is separated from the upper portion of the susceptor, the one or more heat absorbing members absorbing heat of the susceptor at the mounted position, and an edge ring having a plurality of fixing slots in which the heat absorbing members are selectively inserted and fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: EUGENE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hai Won Kim, Sung-Kil Cho
  • Patent number: 9728429
    Abstract: Parasitic plasma in voids in a component of a plasma processing chamber can be eliminated by covering electrically conductive surfaces in an interior of the voids with a sleeve. The voids can be gas holes, lift pin holes, helium passages, conduits and/or plenums in chamber components such as an upper electrode and a substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony Ricci, Saurabh Ullal, Larry Martinez
  • Patent number: 9711316
    Abstract: A system and method of improving the performance and extending the lifetime of an ion source is disclosed. The ion source includes an ion source chamber, a suppression electrode and a ground electrode. In the processing mode, the ion source chamber may be biased to a first positive voltage, while the suppression electrode is biased to a negative voltage to attract positive ions from within the chamber through an aperture and toward the workpiece. In the cleaning mode, the ion beam is defocused so that it strikes the suppression electrode and the ground electrode. The voltages applied to the ion source chamber and the electrodes are pulsed to minimize the possibility of glitches during this cleaning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Leavitt, Peter F. Kurunczi
  • Patent number: 9701541
    Abstract: In various embodiments, systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for stabilizing filaments in a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor system. A system includes a base plate having a plurality of electrical connections, a pair of filaments extending from the base plate, and a stabilizer connecting the pair of filaments. Each filament is in electrical contact with, and defines a conductive path between, the two electrical connections. A method of stabilizing the filaments includes providing the pair of filaments, and connecting the pair of filaments with at least one stabilizer. The stabilizer may include an electrically insulating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Inventors: Wenjun Qin, Chad Fero, Aaron Dean Rhodes, Jeffrey C. Gum
  • Patent number: 9583371
    Abstract: An ESC may include a dielectric layer, an electrode, a pedestal, a heater, an adhesive and a protecting ring. The dielectric layer may be configured to support a substrate. The electrode may be disposed in the dielectric layer and is configured to form plasma over the substrate. The pedestal may be disposed under the dielectric layer. The heater may be disposed between the pedestal and the dielectric layer and is configured to heat the substrate. The adhesive may be disposed between the pedestal and the heater, and between the heater and the dielectric layer. The protecting ring may be configured to surround the adhesive. The protecting ring may include a plasma-resistant material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jea-Eun Jess Shim, Jin-Man Kim, Hee-Sam Kim, Jong-Bum Park, Kwang-Bo Sim, Sang-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 9566821
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus includes a plasma-generation high-frequency power supply which generates plasma in a processing chamber, a biasing high-frequency power supply which applies high-frequency bias electric power to an electrode on which a sample is placed, a monitor which monitors a peak-to-peak value of the high-frequency bias electric power applied to the electrode, an electrostatic chuck power supply which makes the electrode electrostatically attract the sample, a self-bias voltage calculating unit which calculates self-bias voltage of the sample by monitoring the peak-to-peak value of the high-frequency bias electric power applied to the electrode, and an output voltage control unit which controls output voltage of the electrostatic chuck power supply based on the calculated self-bias voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takamasa Ichino, Ryoji Nishio, Shinji Obama
  • Patent number: 9449797
    Abstract: A component of a plasma processing chamber having a protective liquid layer on a plasma exposed surface of the component. The protective liquid layer can be replenished by supplying a liquid to a liquid channel and delivering the liquid through liquid feed passages in the component. The component can be an edge ring which surrounds a semiconductor substrate supported on a substrate support in a plasma processing apparatus wherein plasma is generated and used to process the semiconductor substrate. Alternatively, the protective liquid layer can be cured or cooled sufficiently to form a solid protective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harmeet Singh, Thorsten Lill
  • Patent number: 9441288
    Abstract: A mask for thin film deposition used in forming an organic thin film or a conductive layer in an organic light emitting device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the mask includes i) a base member, ii) a plurality of slits configured to penetrate through the base member, wherein the plurality of slits have a predetermined length and extend in a first direction, wherein the plurality of slits comprise an outermost slit positioned in an outermost in a second direction having a predetermined angle with respect to the first direction, and wherein the outermost slit comprises two sub-slits separated from each other and iii) a rib supporting part formed between and contacting the two sub-slits, wherein the rib supporting part extends from a rib which is adjacent to the outermost slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Young Sung, Hong-Ryul Kim
  • Patent number: 9353441
    Abstract: A pedestal for supporting a substrate includes: a heating plate for heating the substrate; an upper cooling plate for cooling the substrate, installed on the heating plate and provided with an upper fluid path for passing a cooling fluid therethrough; and an lower cooling plate for cooling the substrate, installed under the heating plate and including a lower fluid path for passing a cooling fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: ASM IP Holding B.V.
    Inventors: Hsiao Pei Chung, Hirofumi Arai, Dai Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9325007
    Abstract: A magnetic handling assembly for thin-film processing of a substrate, a system and method for assembling and disassembling a shadow mask to cover a top of a workpiece for exposure to a processing condition. The assembly may include a magnetic handling carrier and a shadow mask disposed over, and magnetically coupled to, the magnetic handling carrier to cover a top of a workpiece that is to be disposed between the shadow mask and the magnetic handling carrier when exposed to a processing condition. A system includes a first chamber with a first support to hold the shadow mask, a second support to hold a handling carrier, and an alignment system to align the shadow mask a workpiece to be disposed between the carrier and shadow mask. The first and second supports are moveable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Byung-Sung Leo Kwak, Stefan Bangert, Ralf Hofmann, Michael Koenig
  • Patent number: 9224583
    Abstract: A substrate support apparatus for a plasma processing system includes a layer of dielectric material having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface is defined to support a substrate in exposure to a plasma. The substrate support apparatus also includes a number of optical fibers each having a first end and a second end. The first end of each optical fiber is defined to receive photons from a photon source. The second end of each optical fiber is oriented to project photons received from the photon source onto the bottom surface of the layer of dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Henry Povolny, Rajinder Dhindsa
  • Patent number: 9218997
    Abstract: Electrostatic chucks and methods of manufacturing the same are provided herein. In some embodiments, an electrostatic chuck comprises an electrically conductive body having one or more channels formed in an upper surface thereof; a plate positioned within the one or more channels to define one or more plenums between the body and the plate, wherein the surfaces of the plenum are anodized; one or more fluid passages disposed in the plate and fluidly coupling the one or more plenums to the upper surface of the body, wherein the surfaces of the fluid passages are electrically insulated; and a dielectric layer disposed over the upper surface of the body and the plate, wherein the dielectric layer forms a support surface for a substrate to be disposed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Seok Yul Jun, Bum Jin Park, Sun Il Kim, Hyong Seok Oh, Sung Chul Cho, Young Sam Na, Yeon Sang Cho, Ha Sung Song, Seong Ju Kim, Hee Sang Chae, Talex Sajoto
  • Patent number: 9214376
    Abstract: A substrate mounting stage that prevents poor attraction of substrates so as to improve the operating rate of a substrate processing apparatus. The substrate mounting stage is disposed in the substrate processing apparatus and has a substrate mounting surface on which a substrate is mounted. The arithmetic average roughness (Ra) of the substrate mounting surface is not less than a first predetermined value, and the initial wear height (Rpk) of the substrate mounting surface is not more than a second predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masakazu Higuma, Yasuharu Sasaki, Tadashi Aoto, Eiichiro Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 9194042
    Abstract: The present invention relates to: a jig for semiconductor production which is used for a CVD device in a semiconductor production process and contains a jig base and an SiC coating film formed on the jig base, in which the SiC coating film has a surface area ratio (surface area S2/surface area S1) between an apparent surface area S1 as calculated on the assumption that the surface is flat and free from unevenness and an actual surface area S2, of from 1.4 to 3.2; and a method for producing the jig for semiconductor production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoichi Kamisuki, Shinji Kondoh, Yasuji Fukasawa, Masanori Kawaguchi, Atsuto Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 9184069
    Abstract: A heating apparatus comprises a heating element, an inner shell for supporting the heating element, an outer shell disposed along the outer boundary of the inner shell, a cooling medium passage for conveying a cooling medium between the inner shell and the outer shell, a first opening provided in the inner shell, a second opening provided in the outer shell, and a partition arranged to extend from the first opening to the second opening for developing at least a space separated from the cooling medium passage and between the inner shell and the outer shell. The heating apparatus further comprises an insulator for shutting up a gap provided between the partition and the second opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignees: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc., Teitokusha Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Hayashida, Masaaki Ueno, Masakazu Shimada, Masashi Sugishita, Toshimitsu Miyata, Kimio Kitamura, Kenji Tanaka, Jyunichi Nishihara
  • Patent number: 9171702
    Abstract: A consumable isolation ring of a movable substrate support assembly is described. The consumable isolation ring is configured to be supported on a step of a movable ground ring fit around a fixed ground ring. The consumable isolation ring is configured to electrically isolate the movable ground ring from a dielectric ring of the movable substrate support assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Kellogg, Alexei Marakhtanov, Rajinder Dhindsa