Patents by Inventor Cheryl A. KNEPFLER

Cheryl A. KNEPFLER 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: 10236201
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for securing and transferring substrates. A substrate carrier, having one or more electrostatic chucking electrodes disposed therein, electrostatically couples a substrate to the carrier. Optionally, a mask may also be electrostatically coupled to the carrier and may be disposed over a region of the carrier not occupied by the substrate. In one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies are provided such that a first electrode assembly chucks the substrate to the carrier and a second electrode assembly chucks the mask to the carrier. In another embodiment, a pocket is formed in the carrier and an electrode assembly provides chucking capability within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Cox, Cheryl A. Knepfler
  • Publication number: 20160365269
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for securing and transferring substrates. A substrate carrier, having one or more electrostatic chucking electrodes disposed therein, electrostatically couples a substrate to the carrier. Optionally, a mask may also be electrostatically coupled to the carrier and may be disposed over a region of the carrier not occupied by the substrate. In one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies are provided such that a first electrode assembly chucks the substrate to the carrier and a second electrode assembly chucks the mask to the carrier. In another embodiment, a pocket is formed in the carrier and an electrode assembly provides chucking capability within the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Michael S. COX, Cheryl A. KNEPFLER
  • Patent number: 9460950
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for securing and transferring substrates. A substrate carrier, having one or more electrostatic chucking electrodes disposed therein, electrostatically couples a substrate to the carrier such. Optionally, a mask may also be electrostatically coupled to the carrier and may be disposed over a region of the carrier not occupied by the substrate. In one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies are provided such that a first electrode assembly chucks the substrate to the carrier and a second electrode assembly chucks the mask to the carrier. In another embodiment, a pocket is formed in the carrier and an electrode assembly provides chucking capability within the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael S. Cox, Cheryl A. Knepfler
  • Publication number: 20150162231
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an apparatus and method for securing and transferring substrates. A substrate carrier, having one or more electrostatic chucking electrodes disposed therein, electrostatically couples a substrate to the carrier such. Optionally, a mask may also be electrostatically coupled to the carrier and may be disposed over a region of the carrier not occupied by the substrate. In one embodiment, multiple electrode assemblies are provided such that a first electrode assembly chucks the substrate to the carrier and a second electrode assembly chucks the mask to the carrier. In another embodiment, a pocket is formed in the carrier and an electrode assembly provides chucking capability within the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Michael S. COX, Cheryl A. KNEPFLER
  • Patent number: 7745333
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kaung Lai, Ravi Rajagopalan, Amit Khandelwal, Madhu Moorthy, Srinivas Gandikota, Joseph Castro, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Cheryl Knepfler, Ping Jian, Hongbin Fang, Chao-Ming Huang, Ming Xi, Michael X. Yang, Hua Chung, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Publication number: 20080280438
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Ken Kaung Lai, Ravi Rajagopalan, Amit Khandelwal, Madhu Moorthy, Srinivas Gandikota, Joseph Castro, Aygerinos V. Gelatos, Cheryl Knepfler, Ping Jian, Hongbin Fang, Chao-Ming Huang, Ming Xi, Michael X. Yang, Hua Chung, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Patent number: 7405158
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kaung Lai, Ravi Rajagopalan, Amit Khandelwal, Madhu Moorthy, Srinivas Gandikota, Joseph Castro, Averginos V. Gelatos, Cheryl Knepfler, Ping Jian, Hongbin Fang, Chao-Ming Huang, Ming Xi, Michael X. Yang, Hua Chung, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Publication number: 20060009034
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Ken Lai, Ravi Rajagopalan, Amit Khandelwal, Madhu Moorthy, Srinivas Gandikota, Joseph Castro, Aygerinos Gelatos, Cheryl Knepfler, Ping Jian, Hongbin Fang, Chao-Ming Huang, Ming Xi, Michael Yang, Hua Chung, Jeong Byun