Patents by Inventor Daniel A. Brown

Daniel A. Brown 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: 12100575
    Abstract: A plasma processing device may include a plasma processing chamber, a plasma electrode assembly, a wafer stage, a plasma producing gas inlet, a plurality of vacuum ports, at least one vacuum pump, and a multi-port valve assembly. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a movable seal plate positioned in the plasma processing chamber. The movable seal plate may comprise a transverse port sealing surface that is shaped and sized to completely overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a closed state, to partially overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a partially open state, and to avoid substantial overlap of the plurality of vacuum ports in an open state. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a transverse actuator coupled to the movable seal plate and a sealing actuator coupled to the movable seal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Brown, Michael C. Kellogg, Leonard J. Sharpless, Allan K. Ronne, James E. Tappan
  • Publication number: 20180323041
    Abstract: A plasma processing device may include a plasma processing chamber, a plasma electrode assembly, a wafer stage, a plasma producing gas inlet, a plurality of vacuum ports, at least one vacuum pump, and a multi-port valve assembly. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a movable seal plate positioned in the plasma processing chamber. The movable seal plate may comprise a transverse port sealing surface that is shaped and sized to completely overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a closed state, to partially overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a partially open state, and to avoid substantial overlap of the plurality of vacuum ports in an open state. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a transverse actuator coupled to the movable seal plate and a sealing actuator coupled to the movable seal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Daniel A. Brown, Michael C. Kellogg, Leonard J. Sharpless, Allan K. Ronne, James E. Tappan
  • Patent number: 10037869
    Abstract: A plasma processing device may include a plasma processing chamber, a plasma electrode assembly, a wafer stage, a plasma producing gas inlet, a plurality of vacuum ports, at least one vacuum pump, and a multi-port valve assembly. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a movable seal plate positioned in the plasma processing chamber. The movable seal plate may comprise a transverse port sealing surface that is shaped and sized to completely overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a closed state, to partially overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a partially open state, and to avoid substantial overlap of the plurality of vacuum ports in an open state. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a transverse actuator coupled to the movable seal plate and a sealing actuator coupled to the movable seal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel A. Brown, Michael C. Kellogg, Leonard J. Sharpless, Allan K. Ronne, James E. Tappan
  • Publication number: 20160033977
    Abstract: A plasma processing device may include a plasma processing chamber, a plasma electrode assembly, a wafer stage, a plasma producing gas inlet, a plurality of vacuum ports, at least one vacuum pump, and a multi-port valve assembly. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a movable seal plate positioned in the plasma processing chamber. The movable seal plate may comprise a transverse port sealing surface that is shaped and sized to completely overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a closed state, to partially overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a partially open state, and to avoid substantial overlap of the plurality of vacuum ports in an open state. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a transverse actuator coupled to the movable seal plate and a sealing actuator coupled to the movable seal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel A. Brown, Michael C. Kellogg, Leonard J. Sharpless, Allan K. Ronne, James E. Tappan
  • Publication number: 20150047785
    Abstract: A plasma processing device may include a plasma processing chamber, a plasma electrode assembly, a wafer stage, a plasma producing gas inlet, a plurality of vacuum ports, at least one vacuum pump, and a multi-port valve assembly. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a movable seal plate positioned in the plasma processing chamber. The movable seal plate may comprise a transverse port sealing surface that is shaped and sized to completely overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a closed state, to partially overlap the plurality of vacuum ports in a partially open state, and to avoid substantial overlap of the plurality of vacuum ports in an open state. The multi-port valve assembly may comprise a transverse actuator coupled to the movable seal plate and a sealing actuator coupled to the movable seal plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Kellogg, Daniel A. Brown, Leonard J. Sharpless, Allan K. Ronne
  • Publication number: 20150041062
    Abstract: An apparatus for plasma processing a wafer is provided. A bottom plate is provided. A tubular chamber wall with a wafer aperture is adjacent to the bottom plate. A bottom removable seal provides a vacuum seal between the bottom plate and the tubular chamber wall at a first end of the tubular wall. A top plate is adjacent to the tubular chamber wall. A top removable seal provides a vacuum seal between a second end of the tubular wall and the top plate. A vertical seal is provided, where a vertical movement of the tubular wall allows the vertical seal to create a seal around the wafer aperture. A bottom alignment guide aligns the tubular chamber wall with the bottom plate. A top alignment guide aligns the top plate with the tubular chamber wall. A wafer chuck is disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. KELLOGG, Daniel A. BROWN
  • Publication number: 20130264309
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate using plasma are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plasma processing system having a process gas supply arrangement for supplying a process gas into an interior region of said chamber and a plasma source configured for generating said plasma at least from said process gas. The apparatus also includes an acoustic energy generator arrangement configured to apply acoustic energy to at least one of a chamber component and said substrate, wherein said acoustic energy generator generates said acoustic energy in the range of 10 Hz to 1 MHz using at least one of a piezoelectric transducing, mechanical coupling vibration, wafer backside gas pulsing, pulsing of said process gas, pressure wave pulsing, and electromagnetic coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Ian J. Kenworthy, Daniel A. Brown, Cliff E. La Croix, Josh A. Cormier
  • Patent number: 6658018
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and computer-readable medium for dynamically maximizing throughput performance of a fault-tolerant network adapter team capable of supporting network adapters of similar and dissimilar types. The fault-tolerant adapter team includes a plurality of network adapters, which are coupled to a computer system (i.e., network server) and interfaces with a data communications network. The system makes use of an agent module, which assesses the capabilities of each of the network adapters in the team and automatically selects a primary adapter for accommodating a substantial portion of the network data traffic. This selection is based on the agent module assessment. In the event of primary adapter failure, the system automatically switches over to the best available alternate primary adapter, which is automatically selected on the basis of the agent assessment. The alternate primary adapter then accommodates a substantial portion of network data traffic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Han N. Tran, Daniel A. Brown, Gangadhar D. Bhat
  • Patent number: D371809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Annulus Games International Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Brown
  • Patent number: D398481
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Inventors: Daniel A. Brown, Jolie L. Brown