Patents by Inventor Blake W. Erickson
Blake W. Erickson 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: 20240429077Abstract: The disclosure describes apparatus and method for detecting an endpoint in plasma-assisted wafer processing in a chamber. A fiber array comprising a plurality of fibers collects optical emission light from the chamber during the plasma-assisted wafer processing. The fiber array is split into two or more groups of fibers, each group carrying a portion of the light to a segment of a photodetector. Each segment of photodetector has a corresponding narrowband optical filter designed for a specific range of wavelengths. A computer processor analyzes detected signals from the plurality of segments of the photodetector, and determines, based on the analysis of the detected signals, an endpoint of the plasma-assisted wafer processing as indicated by the presence or the absence of the one or more chemical species in the chamber. The photodetector can be based on photomultiplier tube (PMT) array or based on photodiodes (e.g., avalanche photodiodes (APDs)).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2024Publication date: December 26, 2024Inventors: Varoujan Chakarian, Blake W. Erickson
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Publication number: 20240420975Abstract: The disclosure describes apparatus and method for detecting an endpoint in plasma-assisted wafer processing in a chamber. A fiber array comprising a plurality of fibers collects optical emission light from the chamber during the plasma-assisted wafer processing. The fiber array is split into two or more sub-arrays of fibers, each group carrying a portion of the light to a segment of a photodetector. Each segment of photodetector has a corresponding narrowband optical filter designed for a specific range of wavelengths. A computer processor analyzes detected signals from the plurality of segments of the photodetector, and determines, based on the analysis of the detected signals, an endpoint of the plasma-assisted wafer processing as indicated by the presence or the absence of the one or more chemical species in the chamber. The photodetector can be based on photomultiplier tubes (PMT), specifically multi-anode PMT.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2024Publication date: December 19, 2024Inventors: Varoujan Chakarian, Blake W Erickson
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Publication number: 20240361239Abstract: Implementations disclosed describe a system including a light source, an optical sensor, and a processing device. The light source directs, during a first time, a probe light into a processing chamber through a window. The light source ceases, during a second time, directing the probe light into the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the first time, a first intensity of a first light. The first light includes a portion of the probe light reflected from the window and a light transmitted from an environment of the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the second time, a second intensity of a second light. The second light includes the light transmitted from the environment of the processing chamber through the window. The processing device determines, using the first intensity and the second intensity, a transmission coefficient of the window.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Inventors: Patrick Tae, Zhaozhao Zhu, Blake W. Erickson, Chunlei Zhang
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Patent number: 12080574Abstract: The disclosure describes apparatus and method for detecting an endpoint in plasma-assisted wafer processing in a chamber. A fiber array comprising a plurality of fibers collects optical emission light from the chamber during the plasma-assisted wafer processing. The fiber array is split into two or more groups of fibers, each group carrying a portion of the light to a segment of a photodetector. Each segment of photodetector has a corresponding narrowband optical filter designed for a specific range of wavelengths. A computer processor analyzes detected signals from the plurality of segments of the photodetector, and determines, based on the analysis of the detected signals, an endpoint of the plasma-assisted wafer processing as indicated by the presence or the absence of the one or more chemical species in the chamber. The photodetector can be based on photomultiplier tube (PMT) array or based on photodiodes (e.g., avalanche photodiodes (APDs)).Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2020Date of Patent: September 3, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Varoujan Chakarian, Blake W Erickson
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Publication number: 20240290592Abstract: A method includes embedding at least part of a transparent crystal within a wall and a liner of a processing chamber, depositing a transparent thin film on a surface of the transparent crystal that is exposed to an interior of the processing chamber and depositing a process film layer on the transparent thin film. The method includes receiving light reflected back from a surface of the transparent thin film and a surface of the process film layer and detecting, by a spectrometer within the received light, a first spectrum that is representative of the process film layer. The method includes calculating, by a processing device coupled to the spectrometer, a process drift of the processing chamber based at least in part on the first spectrum.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: Patrick Tae, Blake W. Erickson, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michael David Willwerth, Barry Paul Craver
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Patent number: 12031910Abstract: Implementations disclosed describe a system including a light source, an optical sensor, and a processing device. The light source directs, during a first time, a probe light into a processing chamber through a window. The light source ceases, during a second time, directing the probe light into the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the first time, a first intensity of a first light. The first light includes a portion of the probe light reflected from the window and a light transmitted from an environment of the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the second time, a second intensity of a second light. The second light includes the light transmitted from the environment of the processing chamber through the window. The processing device determines, using the first intensity and the second intensity, a transmission coefficient of the window.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Tae, Zhaozhao Zhu, Blake W. Erickson, Chunlei Zhang
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Patent number: 12009191Abstract: A system includes a transparent crystal, at least part of which is embedded within a wall and a liner of a processing chamber. The transparent crystal has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal surface exposed to an interior of the processing chamber. A transparent thin film is deposited on the distal surface and has chemical properties substantially matching those of the liner. A light coupling device is to: transmit light, from a light source, through the proximal end of the transparent crystal, and focus, into a spectrometer, light received reflected back from a combination of the distal surface, a surface of the transparent thin film, and a surface of a process film layer deposited on the transparent thin film. The spectrometer is to detect a first spectrum within the focused light that is representative of the process film layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2020Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Tae, Blake W. Erickson, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michael David Willwerth, Barry Paul Craver
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Publication number: 20230298872Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a processing device, first sensor data indicating a state of a wall corresponding to a first processing chamber. The first sensor data includes optical spectral data. The method further includes determining, by the processing device, a first value based on the first sensor data. The first value corresponds to a first amount of a product disposed along a surface of the wall at a first time. The method further includes determining, by the processing device, a first update to a first process operation associated with the first processing chamber based on the first value. The method further includes performing, by the processing device, one or more of (i) preparing a notification indicating the first update for presentation on a graphical user interface (GUI), or (ii) causing performance of the first process operation in accordance with the first update.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2022Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Jeffrey Yat Shan Au, Joshua Thomas Maher, Varoujan Chakarian, Sidharth Bhatia, Patrick Tae, Zhaozhao Zhu, Blake W. Erickson
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Publication number: 20230078567Abstract: Implementations disclosed describe a system including a light source, an optical sensor, and a processing device. The light source directs, during a first time, a probe light into a processing chamber through a window. The light source ceases, during a second time, directing the probe light into the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the first time, a first intensity of a first light. The first light includes a portion of the probe light reflected from the window and a light transmitted from an environment of the processing chamber through the window. The optical sensor detects, during the second time, a second intensity of a second light. The second light includes the light transmitted from the environment of the processing chamber through the window. The processing device determines, using the first intensity and the second intensity, a transmission coefficient of the window.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: March 16, 2023Inventors: Patrick Tae, Zhaozhao Zhu, Blake W. Erickson, Chunlei Zhang
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Publication number: 20220020617Abstract: The disclosure describes apparatus and method for detecting an endpoint in plasma-assisted wafer processing in a chamber. A fiber array comprising a plurality of fibers collects optical emission light from the chamber during the plasma-assisted wafer processing. The fiber array is split into two or more groups of fibers, each group carrying a portion of the light to a segment of a photodetector. Each segment of photodetector has a corresponding narrowband optical filter designed for a specific range of wavelengths. A computer processor analyzes detected signals from the plurality of segments of the photodetector, and determines, based on the analysis of the detected signals, an endpoint of the plasma-assisted wafer processing as indicated by the presence or the absence of the one or more chemical species in the chamber. The photodetector can be based on photomultiplier tube (PMT) array or based on photodiodes (e.g., avalanche photodiodes (APDs)).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2020Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Varoujan Chakarian, Blake W. Erickson
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Publication number: 20210391157Abstract: A system includes a transparent crystal, at least part of which is embedded within a wall and a liner of a processing chamber. The transparent crystal has a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a distal surface exposed to an interior of the processing chamber. A transparent thin film is deposited on the distal surface and has chemical properties substantially matching those of the liner. A light coupling device is to: transmit light, from a light source, through the proximal end of the transparent crystal, and focus, into a spectrometer, light received reflected back from a combination of the distal surface, a surface of the transparent thin film, and a surface of a process film layer deposited on the transparent thin film. The spectrometer is to detect a first spectrum within the focused light that is representative of the process film layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2020Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Patrick Tae, Blake W. Erickson, Zhaozhao Zhu, Michael David Willwerth, Barry Paul Craver