Patents by Inventor Aaron Hunter
Aaron Hunter has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20250020137Abstract: A compressor motor assembly and method of operation are described. The fan mount sleeve motor assembly has a motor housing for receiving a motor, a hollow motor shaft forming a cavity for receiving a pump shaft, a pump shaft extending from a pump, a rotational cooling unit shroud dimensioned and configured to receive a rotational cooling unit, wherein the rotational cooling unit shroud and rotational cooling unit have a central opening for receiving a pump shaft, and a keyed hub sleeve dimensioned and configured to house the pump shaft, wherein the keyed hub sleeve coupled to the pump shaft together are couplable to and received by the hollow motor shaft, and wherein the keyed hub sleeve fastens the rotational cooling unit to the pump shaft, allowing the rotation of the pump cooling fan to be fixed to the pump shaft rotation when coupled with the motor shaft.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: Gabriel Ferenczi, Josh Goin, Aaron Hunter
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Patent number: 11959492Abstract: A pump assembly and method of cooling process air generated by the pump. The assembly includes a pump and a motor coupled by a gear arrangement. The pump has a cooling air intake and a cooling air exhaust and a process air intake and a process air discharge. The assembly also includes a heat exchanger having a process air inlet and a process air outlet. The assembly includes isolated first and second regions such that within the first region the cooling air exhaust of the pump is positioned at a first stage of tubing within the heat exchanger and further such that within the second region the cooling air intake of the pump is positioned at a second stage of tubing within the heat exchanger.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Powerex-Iwata Air Technology, Inc.Inventors: Abbey Soulek, Aaron Hunter, Joseph A. Abt, Jeff Heyser
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Publication number: 20200141423Abstract: A pump assembly and method of cooling process air generated by the pump. The assembly includes a pump and a motor coupled by a gear arrangement. The pump has a cooling air intake and a cooling air exhaust and a process air intake and a process air discharge. The assembly also includes a heat exchanger having a process air inlet and a process air outlet. The assembly includes isolated first and second regions such that within the first region the cooling air exhaust of the pump is positioned at a first stage of tubing within the heat exchanger and further such that within the second region the cooling air intake of the pump is positioned at a second stage of tubing within the heat exchanger.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2019Publication date: May 7, 2020Inventors: ABBEY SOULEK, Aaron Hunter, Joseph A. Abt, Jeff Heyser
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Patent number: 9728471Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for reducing non uniformity during thermal processing. One embodiment provides an apparatus for processing a substrate comprising a chamber body defining a processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume, wherein the substrate support is configured to rotate the substrate, a sensor assembly configured to measure temperature of the substrate at a plurality of locations, and one or more pulse heating elements configured to provide pulsed energy towards the processing volume.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang R. Aderhold, Aaron Hunter, Joseph M. Ranish
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Patent number: 9431278Abstract: Apparatus and methods of thermally treating a wafer or other substrate, such as rapid thermal processing (RTP) apparatus and methods are disclosed. An array of radiant lamps directs radiation to the back side of a wafer to heat the wafer. In one or more embodiments, the front side of the wafer on which the patterned integrated circuits are being formed faces a radiant reflector. In one or more embodiments, the wafer is thermally monitored for temperature and reflectivity from the side of the reflector.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2008Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Sundar Ramamurthy, Aaron Hunter
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Patent number: 9114479Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating a substrate. The substrate is positioned on a support in a thermal treatment chamber. Electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to anneal a portion of the substrate. Other electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to preheat a portion of the substrate. The preheating reduces thermal stresses at the boundary between the preheat region and the anneal region. Any number of anneal and preheat regions are contemplated, with varying shapes and temperature profiles, as needed for specific embodiments. Any convenient source of electromagnetic radiation may be used, such as lasers, heat lamps, white light lamps, or flash lamps.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Stephen Moffatt, Abhilash J. Mayur, Sundar Ramamurthy, Joseph Ranish, Aaron Hunter
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Publication number: 20150221535Abstract: Temperature measurement of a silicon wafer is described using the interference between reflections off surfaces of the wafer. In one example, the invention includes a silicon processing chamber, a wafer holder within the chamber to hold a silicon substrate for processing, and a laser directed to a surface of the substrate. A photodetector receives light from the laser that is reflected off the surface directly and through the substrate and a processor determines a temperature of the silicon substrate based on the received reflected light.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Inventors: Andrew Nguyen, Jiping Li, Aaron Hunter
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Patent number: 8907247Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Dean Jennings, Haifan Liang, Mark Yam, Vijay Parihar, Abhilash J. Mayur, Aaron Hunter, Bruce Adams, Joseph Michael Ranish
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Patent number: 8890024Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Dean Jennings, Haifan Liang, Mark Yam, Vijay Parihar, Abhilash J. Mayur, Aaron Hunter, Bruce Adams, Joseph Michael Ranish
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Publication number: 20140220710Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for reducing non uniformity during thermal processing. One embodiment provides an apparatus for processing a substrate comprising a chamber body defining a processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume, wherein the substrate support is configured to rotate the substrate, a sensor assembly configured to measure temperature of the substrate at a plurality of locations, and one or more pulse heating elements configured to provide pulsed energy towards the processing volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2014Publication date: August 7, 2014Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang R. ADERHOLD, Aaron HUNTER, Joseph M. RANISH
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Publication number: 20140209583Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating a substrate. The substrate is positioned on a support in a thermal treatment chamber. Electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to anneal a portion of the substrate. Other electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to preheat a portion of the substrate. The preheating reduces thermal stresses at the boundary between the preheat region and the anneal region. Any number of anneal and preheat regions are contemplated, with varying shapes and temperature profiles, as needed for specific embodiments. Any convenient source of electromagnetic radiation may be used, such as lasers, heat lamps, white light lamps, or flash lamps.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2014Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Stephen MOFFATT, Abhilash J. MAYUR, Sundar RAMAMURTHY, Joseph RANISH, Aaron HUNTER
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Patent number: 8658945Abstract: A apparatus and method of thermally treating a wafer or other substrate, such as rapid thermal processing (RTP). An array of radiant lamps directs radiation to the back side of a wafer to heat the wafer. The front side of the wafer on which the patterned integrated circuits are being formed faces a radiant reflector. The wafer is thermally monitored for temperature and reflectivity from the side of the reflector. When the lamps are above the wafer, an edge ring supports the wafer in its edge exclusion zone. Alternatively, a reactor includes upwardly directed lamps and a reflector above and facing the front side of the wafer.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2004Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Sundar Ramamurthy, Aaron Hunter
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Patent number: 8653408Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Dean Jennings, Haifan Liang, Mark Yam, Vijay Parihar, Abhilash J. Mayur, Aaron Hunter, Bruce Adams, Joseph Michael Ranish
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Patent number: 8452166Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for reducing heating source radiation influence in temperature measurement during thermal processing. In one embodiment of the present invention, background radiant energy, such as an energy source of a thermal processing chamber, is marked within a selected spectrum, a characteristic of the background is then determined by measuring radiant energy at a reference wavelength within the selected spectrum and a comparing wavelength just outside the selected spectrum.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2009Date of Patent: May 28, 2013Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Blake Koelmel, Aaron Hunter
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Patent number: 8372203Abstract: A film formation system 10 includes a processing chamber 15 bounded by sidewalls 18 and a top cover 11. In one embodiment, a susceptor 16 is rotatably disposed in the system 10, and overlaps with a first peripheral member 205 disposed around the sidewalls 18. A radiant heating system 313 is disposed under the susceptor 305 to heat the substrate 19. In another embodiment, the top cover 11 has equally spaced pyrometers 58 for measuring the temperature of the substrate 19 across a number of zones. The temperature of the substrate 19 is obtained from pyrometric data from the pyrometers 58.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Juan Chacin, Aaron Hunter, Craig Metzner, Roger N. Anderson
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Patent number: 8314369Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for treating a substrate. The substrate is positioned on a support in a thermal treatment chamber. Electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to anneal a portion of the substrate. Other electromagnetic radiation is directed toward the substrate to preheat a portion of the substrate. The preheating reduces thermal stresses at the boundary between the preheat region and the anneal region. Any number of anneal and preheat regions are contemplated, with varying shapes and temperature profiles, as needed for specific embodiments. Any convenient source of electromagnetic radiation may be used, such as lasers, heat lamps, white light lamps, or flash lamps.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2008Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Moffatt, Abhilash J. Mayur, Sundar Ramamurthy, Joseph Ranish, Aaron Hunter
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Publication number: 20120276660Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for reducing non uniformity during thermal processing. One embodiment provides an apparatus for processing a substrate comprising a chamber body defining a processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume, wherein the substrate support is configured to rotate the substrate, a sensor assembly configured to measure temperature of the substrate at a plurality of locations, and one or more pulse heating elements configured to provide pulsed energy towards the processing volume.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Wolfgang R. Aderhold, Aaron Hunter, Joseph M. Ranish
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Publication number: 20120261395Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Inventors: Dean Jennings, Haifan Liang, Mark Yam, Vijay Parihar, Abhilash J. Mayur, Aaron Hunter, Bruce Adams, Joseph Michael Ranish
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Publication number: 20120234800Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Dean JENNINGS, Haifan LIANG, Mark YAM, Vijay PARIHAR, Abhilash J. MAYUR, Aaron HUNTER, Bruce ADAMS, Joseph Michael RANISH
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Publication number: 20120234801Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Dean JENNINGS, Haifan LIANG, Mark YAM, Vijay PARIHAR, Abhilash J. MAYUR, Aaron HUNTER, Bruce ADAMS, Joseph Michael RANISH