Patents by Inventor Aaron M. Hunter

Aaron M. 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).

  • Patent number: 9564349
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Patent number: 9449858
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for processing substrates. Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses for processing a substrate comprising a ceramic reflector plate, which may be optically transparent. The reflector plate may include a reflective coating and be part of a reflector plate assembly in which the reflector plate is assembled to a baseplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake R. Koelmel, Aaron M. Hunter, Alexander N. Lerner
  • Patent number: 9390950
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Publication number: 20150050118
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Patent number: 8900889
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Publication number: 20130043235
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Publication number: 20130043632
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lemer, Nir Merry
  • Patent number: 8367983
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing substrates and measuring the temperature using radiation pyrometry are disclosed. A reflective layer is provided on a window of a processing chamber. A radiation source providing radiation in a first range of wavelengths heats the substrate, the substrate being transparent to radiation in a second range of wavelengths within the first range of wavelengths for a predetermined temperature range. Radiation within the second range of wavelength is reflected by the reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Bruce E. Adams
  • Patent number: 8314371
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Joseph M. Ranish, Wolfgang Aderhold, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Alexander N. Lerner, Nir Merry
  • Patent number: 8283607
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing substrates and measuring the temperature using radiation pyrometry are disclosed. A reflective layer is provided on a window of a processing chamber. A radiation source providing radiation in a first range of wavelengths heats the substrate, the substrate being transparent to radiation in a second range of wavelengths within the first range of wavelengths for a predetermined temperature range. Radiation within the second range of wavelength is reflected by the reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel
  • Patent number: 8254767
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a substrate over an extended temperature range, including low temperatures. Systems and methods for using an extended temperature pyrometry system employing a transmitted radiation detector system are disclosed. Systems combining transmitted radiation detector systems and emitted radiation detector systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Hunter, Jiping Li, Rajesh S. Ramanujam, Thomas Haw
  • Publication number: 20120070136
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for processing substrates. Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses for processing a substrate comprising a ceramic reflector plate, which may be optically transparent. The reflector plate may include a reflective coating and be part of a reflector plate assembly in which the reflector plate is assembled to a baseplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake R. Koelmel, Aaron M. Hunter, Alexander N. Lerner
  • Patent number: 8109669
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a radial differential metrology profile of a substrate heated in a process chamber is provided. Methods and systems for determining an angular or azimuthal differential metrology profile of a rotating substrate in a processing chamber are also provided. The radial and azimuthal differential metrology profiles are applied to adjust a reference metrology profile to provide a Virtual metrology of the process chamber. The virtual metrology is applied to control the performance of the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Aderhold, Jallepally Ravi, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Aaron M. Hunter, Ilias Iliopoulos
  • Publication number: 20110065276
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the manufacture of semiconductor devices suitable for narrow pitch applications and methods of fabrication thereof are described herein. Disclosed are various single chambers configured to form and/or shape a material layer by oxidizing a surface of a material layer to form an oxide layer; removing at least some of the oxide layer by an etching process; and cyclically repeating the oxidizing and removing processes until the material layer is formed to a desired shape. In some embodiments, the material layer may be a floating gate of a semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Udayan Ganguly, Joseph M. Ranish, Aaron M. Hunter, Jing Tang, Christopher S. Olsen, Matthew D. Scotney-Castle, Vicky Nguyen, Swaminathan Srinivasan, Wei Liu, Johanes F. Swenberg, Shiyu Sun
  • Publication number: 20110061810
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the manufacture of semiconductor devices suitable for narrow pitch applications and methods of fabrication thereof are described herein. Disclosed are various single chambers configured to form and/or shape a material layer by oxidizing a surface of a material layer to form an oxide layer; removing at least some of the oxide layer by an etching process; and cyclically repeating the oxidizing and removing processes until the material layer is formed to a desired shape. In some embodiments, the material layer may be a floating gate of a semiconductor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Udayan Ganguly, Joseph M. Ranish, Aaron M. Hunter, Jing Tang, Christopher S. Olsen, Matthew D. Scotney-Castle, Vicky Nguyen, Swaminathan Srinivasan, Johanes F. Swenberg, Anchuan Wang, Nitin K. Ingle, Manish Hemkar, Jose A. Marin
  • Publication number: 20100124249
    Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a radial differential metrology profile of a substrate heated in a process chamber is provided. Methods and systems for determining an angular or azimuthal differential metrology profile of a rotating substrate in a processing chamber are also provided. The radial and azimuthal differential metrology profiles are applied to adjust a reference metrology profile to provide a Virtual metrology of the process chamber. The virtual metrology is applied to control the performance of the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: WOLFGANG ADERHOLD, Ravi Jallepally, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Aaron M. Hunter, Ilias Iliopoulos
  • Patent number: 7717617
    Abstract: A thermal processing system includes a source of laser radiation emitting at a laser wavelength, beam projection optics disposed between the reflective surface and a substrate support capable of holding a substrate to be processed, a pyrometer responsive to a pyrometer wavelength, and a wavelength responsive optical element having a first optical path for light in a first wavelength range including the laser wavelength, the first optical path being between the source of laser radiation and the beam projection optics, and a second optical path for light in a second wavelength range including the pyrometer wavelength, the second optical path being between the beam projection optics and the pyrometer. The system can further include a pyrometer wavelength blocking filter between the source of laser radiation and the wavelength responsive optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce E. Adams, Dean Jennings, Aaron M. Hunter, Abhilash J. Mayur, Vijay Parihar, Timothy N. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20100054720
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a substrate over an extended temperature range, including low temperatures. Systems and methods for using an extended temperature pyrometry system employing a transmitted radiation detector system are disclosed. Systems combining transmitted radiation detector systems and emitted radiation detector systems are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Hunter, Jiping Li, Rajesh S. Ramanujam, Thomas Haw
  • Publication number: 20090298300
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for hyperbaric rapid thermal processing of a substrate are described. Methods of processing a substrate in a rapid thermal processing chamber are described that include passing a substrate from outside the chamber through an access port onto a support in the interior region of the processing chamber, closing a port door sealing the chamber, pressurizing the chamber to a pressure greater than 1.5 atmospheres absolute and directing radiant energy toward the substrate. Hyperbaric rapid thermal processing chambers are described which are constructed to withstand pressures greater than at least about 1.5 atmospheres absolute or, optionally, 2 atmospheres of absolute pressure. Processing chambers may include pressure control valves to control the pressure within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Khurshed Sorabji, Alexander N. Lerner, Aaron M. Hunter
  • Publication number: 20090289053
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing substrates and measuring the temperature using radiation pyrometry are disclosed. A reflective layer is provided on a window of a processing chamber. A radiation source providing radiation in a first range of wavelengths heats the substrate, the substrate being transparent to radiation in a second range of wavelengths within the first range of wavelengths for a predetermined temperature range. Radiation within the second range of wavelength is reflected by the reflective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Aaron M. Hunter, Blake R. Koelmel, Bruce E. Adams