Patents by Inventor Allen Lau

Allen Lau 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).

  • Publication number: 20040089536
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides a physical vapor deposition chamber and a method for detecting a position of a shutter disk within a physical vapor deposition chamber. In one embodiment, a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a chamber body having a shutter disk mechanism disposed therein. A housing is sealingly coupled to a sidewall of the chamber body and communicates therewith through a slot formed through the sidewall. At least a first sensor is disposed adjacent to the housing and orientated to detect the presence of a shutter disk mechanism within the housing. In one embodiment, a method for detecting the position of a shutter disk within a physical vapor deposition chamber having a substrate support generally includes moving the shutter disk away from a substrate support, and changing a state of a first sensor in response to a position of an edge the shutter disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Feltsman, Allen Lau, Michael Rosenstein, Marc O. Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20040083977
    Abstract: Generally, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate includes a body coupled to a lower shield. The body has an upper surface adapted to support the substrate and a lower surface. The lower shield has a center portion and a lip. The lip is disposed radially outward of the body and projects towards a plane defined by the first surface. The lip is disposed in a spaced-apart relation from the body. The lower shield is adapted to interface with an upper shield disposed in a processing chamber to define a labyrinth gap that substantially prevents plasma from migrating below the member. The lower shield, in another embodiment, provides the plasma with a short RF ground return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Brown, Vineet Mehta, See-Eng Phan, Semyon Sherstinsky, Allen Lau
  • Patent number: 6726805
    Abstract: Generally, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate includes a body coupled to a lower shield. The body has an upper surface adapted to support the substrate and a lower surface. The lower shield has a center portion and a lip. The lip is disposed radially outward of the body and projects towards a plane defined by the first surface. The lip is disposed in a spaced-apart relation from the body. The lower shield is adapted to interface with an upper shield disposed in a processing chamber to define a labyrinth gap that substantially prevents plasma from migrating below the member. The lower shield, in another embodiment, provides the plasma with a short RF ground return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Brown, Vineet Mehta, See-Eng Phan, Semyon Sherstinsky, Allen Lau
  • Patent number: 6669829
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides a physical vapor deposition chamber and a method for detecting a position of a shutter disk within a physical vapor deposition chamber. In one embodiment, a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a chamber body having a shutter disk mechanism disposed therein. A housing is sealingly coupled to a sidewall of the chamber body and communicates therewith through a slot formed through the sidewall. At least a first sensor is disposed adjacent to the housing and orientated to detect the presence of a shutter disk mechanism within the housing. In one embodiment, a method for detecting the position of a shutter disk within a physical vapor deposition chamber having a substrate support generally includes moving the shutter disk away from a substrate support, and changing a state of a first sensor in response to a position of an edge the shutter disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Feltsman, Allen Lau, Michael Rosenstein, Marc O. Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 6652713
    Abstract: Generally, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate includes a body coupled to a lower shield. The body has an upper surface adapted to support the substrate and a lower surface. The lower shield has a center portion and a lip. The lip is disposed radially outward of the body and projects towards a plane defined by the first surface. The lip is disposed in a spaced-apart relation from the body. The lower shield is adapted to interface with an upper shield disposed in a processing chamber to define a labyrinth gap that substantially prevents plasma from migrating below the member. The lower shield, in another embodiment, provides the plasma with a short RF ground return path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Brown, Vineet Mehta, See-Eng Phan, Semyon Sherstinsky, Allen Lau
  • Publication number: 20030155234
    Abstract: The present invention generally provides a physical vapor deposition chamber and a method for detecting a position of a shutter disk within a physical vapor deposition chamber. In one embodiment, a physical vapor deposition chamber includes a chamber body having a shutter disk mechanism disposed therein. A housing is sealingly coupled to a sidewall of the chamber body and communicates therewith through a slot formed through the sidewall. At least a first sensor is disposed adjacent to the housing and orientated to detect the presence of a shutter disk mechanism within the housing. In one embodiment, a method for detecting the position of a shutter disk within a physical vapor deposition chamber having a substrate support generally includes moving the shutter disk away from a substrate support, and changing a state of a first sensor in response to a position of an edge the shutter disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Feltsman, Allen Lau, Michael Rosenstein, Marc O. Schweitzer
  • Publication number: 20030029568
    Abstract: Generally, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate includes a body coupled to a lower shield. The body has an upper surface adapted to support the substrate and a lower surface. The lower shield has a center portion and a lip. The lip is disposed radially outward of the body and projects towards a plane defined by the first surface. The lip is disposed in a spaced-apart relation from the body. The lower shield is adapted to interface with an upper shield disposed in a processing chamber to define a labyrinth gap that substantially prevents plasma from migrating below the member. The lower shield, in another embodiment, provides the plasma with a short RF ground return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Karl Brown, Vineet Mehta, See-Eng Phan, Semyon Sherstinsky, Allen Lau
  • Publication number: 20030029564
    Abstract: Generally, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a substrate support member for supporting a substrate includes a body coupled to a lower shield. The body has an upper surface adapted to support the substrate and a lower surface. The lower shield has a center portion and a lip. The lip is disposed radially outward of the body and projects towards a plane defined by the first surface. The lip is disposed in a spaced-apart relation from the body. The lower shield is adapted to interface with an upper shield disposed in a processing chamber to define a labyrinth gap that substantially prevents plasma from migrating below the member. The lower shield, in another embodiment, provides the plasma with a short RF ground return path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Karl Brown, Vineet Mehta, See-Eng Phan, Semyon Sherstinsky, Allen Lau