Patents by Inventor Daniel Lee Diehl

Daniel Lee Diehl 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: 9478421
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provides methods for forming a PVD silicon oxide or silicon rich oxide, or PVD SiN or silicon rich SiN, or SiC or silicon rich SiC, or combination of the preceding including a variation which includes controlled doping of hydrogen into the compounds heretofore referred to as SiOxNyCz:Hw, where w, x, y, and z can vary in concentration from 0% to 100%, is produced as a hardmask with optical properties that are substantially matched to the photo-resists at the exposure wavelength. Thus making the hardmask optically planarized with respect to the photo-resist. This allows for multiple sequences of litho and etches in the hardmask while the photo-resist maintains essentially no optical topography or reflectivity variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Dennis Bencher, Daniel Lee Diehl, Huixiong Dai, Yong Cao, Tingjun Xu, Weimin Zeng, Peng Xie
  • Patent number: 9478697
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a substrate carrier for holding a plurality of substrates comprises a disk formed of a continuous material to a nominal dimension which is approximately a multiple of a nominal dimension of a standard substrate size used in the manufacture of light emitting diode devices. In an embodiment, the disk is formed symmetrically about a central axis and defines a substantially planar upper surface. A first pair of pockets is defined in the upper surface of the disk, wherein the disk and each of the first pair of pockets are bisected by a first reference plane passing through the central axis. A second pair of pockets is defined in the upper surface of the disk, wherein the disk and each of the second pair of pockets are bisected by a second reference plane passing through the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Sriskantharajah Thirunavukarasu, Mingwei Zhu, Karthik Elumalai, Thean Ming Tan, Yong Cao, Daniel Lee Diehl, Nag Patibandla
  • Publication number: 20160133781
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a substrate carrier for holding a plurality of substrates comprises a disk formed of a continuous material to a nominal dimension which is approximately a multiple of a nominal dimension of a standard substrate size used in the manufacture of light emitting diode devices. In an embodiment, the disk is formed symmetrically about a central axis and defines a substantially planar upper surface. A first pair of pockets is defined in the upper surface of the disk, wherein the disk and each of the first pair of pockets are bisected by a first reference plane passing through the central axis. A second pair of pockets is defined in the upper surface of the disk, wherein the disk and each of the second pair of pockets are bisected by a second reference plane passing through the central axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: SRISKANTHARAJAH THIRUNAVUKARASU, Mingwei Zhu, Karthik Elumalai, Thean Ming Tan, Yong Cao, Daniel Lee Diehl, Nag Patibandla
  • Patent number: 9337051
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide a method of forming a reduced dimension pattern in a hardmask that is optically matched to an overlying photoresist layer. The method generally comprises of application of a dimension shrinking conformal carbon layer over the field region, sidewalls, and bottom portion of the patterned photoresist and the underlying hardmask at temperatures below the decomposition temperature of the photoresist. The methods and embodiments herein further involve removal of the conformal carbon layer from the bottom portion of the patterned photoresist and the hardmask by an etch process to expose the hardmask, etching the exposed hardmask substrate at the bottom portion, followed by the simultaneous removal of the conformal carbon layer, the photoresist, and other carbonaceous components. A hardmask with reduced dimension features for further pattern transfer is thus yielded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Bencherki Mebarki, Bok Hoen Kim, Deenesh Padhi, Li Yan Miao, Pramit Manna, Christopher Dennis Bencher, Mehul B. Naik, Huixiong Dai, Christopher S. Ngai, Daniel Lee Diehl
  • Publication number: 20160049305
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure generally provide a method of forming a reduced dimension pattern in a hardmask that is optically matched to an overlying photoresist layer. The method generally comprises of application of a dimension shrinking conformal carbon layer over the field region, sidewalls, and bottom portion of the patterned photoresist and the underlying hardmask at temperatures below the decomposition temperature of the photoresist. The methods and embodiments herein further involve removal of the conformal carbon layer from the bottom portion of the patterned photoresist and the hardmask by an etch process to expose the hardmask, etching the exposed hardmask substrate at the bottom portion, followed by the simultaneous removal of the conformal carbon layer, the photoresist, and other carbonaceous components. A hardmask with reduced dimension features for further pattern transfer is thus yielded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Bencherki MEBARKI, Bok Hoen KIM, Deenesh PADHI, Li Yan MIAO, Pramit MANNA, Christopher Dennis BENCHER, Mehul B. NAIK, Huixiong DAI, Christopher S. NGAI, Daniel Lee DIEHL
  • Publication number: 20160042951
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provides methods for forming a PVD silicon oxide or silicon rich oxide, or PVD SiN or silicon rich SiN, or SiC or silicon rich SiC, or combination of the preceding including a variation which includes controlled doping of hydrogen into the compounds heretofore referred to as SiOxNyCz:Hw, where w, x, y, and z can vary in concentration from 0% to 100%, is produced as a hardmask with optical properties that are substantially matched to the photo-resists at the exposure wavelength. Thus making the hardmask optically planarized with respect to the photo-resist. This allows for multiple sequences of litho and etches in the hardmask while the photo-resist maintains essentially no optical topography or reflectivity variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher Dennis BENCHER, Daniel Lee DIEHL, Huixiong DAI, Yong CAO, Tingjun XU, Weimin (Wilson) ZENG, Peng XIE
  • Publication number: 20160035937
    Abstract: Oxygen controlled PVD AlN buffers for GaN-based optoelectronic and electronic devices is described. Methods of forming a PVD AlN buffer for GaN-based optoelectronic and electronic devices in an oxygen controlled manner are also described. In an example, a method of forming an aluminum nitride (AlN) buffer layer for GaN-based optoelectronic or electronic devices involves reactive sputtering an AlN layer above a substrate, the reactive sputtering involving reacting an aluminum-containing target housed in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber with a nitrogen-containing gas or a plasma based on a nitrogen-containing gas. The method further involves incorporating oxygen into the AlN layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Mingwei Zhu, Nag B. Patibandla, Rongjun Wang, Daniel Lee Diehl, Vivek Agrawal, Anantha Subramani
  • Publication number: 20150348773
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention described herein generally relate to an apparatus and methods for forming high quality buffer layers and Group III-V layers that are used to form a useful semiconductor device, such as a power device, light emitting diode (LED), laser diode (LD) or other useful device. Embodiments of the invention may also include an apparatus and methods for forming high quality buffer layers, Group III-V layers and electrode layers that are used to form a useful semiconductor device. In some embodiments, an apparatus and method includes the use of one or more cluster tools having one or more physical vapor deposition (PVD) chambers that are adapted to deposit a high quality aluminum nitride (AlN) buffer layer that has a high crystalline orientation on a surface of a plurality of substrates at the same time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Mingwei ZHU, Nag B. PATIBANDLA, Rongjun WANG, Vivek AGRAWAL, Anantha SUBRAMANI, Daniel Lee DIEHL, Xianmin TANG
  • Patent number: 9177796
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provides methods for forming a PVD silicon oxide or silicon rich oxide, or PVD SiN or silicon rich SiN, or SiC or silicon rich SiC, or combination of the preceding including a variation which includes controlled doping of hydrogen into the compounds heretofore referred to as SiOxNyCz:Hw, where w, x, y, and z can vary in concentration from 0% to 100%, is produced as a hardmask with optical properties that are substantially matched to the photo-resists at the exposure wavelength. Thus making the hardmask optically planarized with respect to the photo-resist. This allows for multiple sequences of litho and etches in the hardmask while the photo-resist maintains essentially no optical topography or reflectivity variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Dennis Bencher, Daniel Lee Diehl, Huixiong Dai, Yong Cao, Tingjun Xu, Weimin Zeng, Peng Xie
  • Publication number: 20150293363
    Abstract: Light wave separation lattices and methods of formation are provided herein. In some embodiments, a light wave separation lattice includes a first layer having the formula ROXNY, wherein the first layer has a first refractive index; and a second layer, different from the first layer, disposed atop the first layer, and having the formula R?OXNY, wherein the second layer has a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, and wherein R and R? are each one of a metal or a dielectric material. In some embodiments, a method of forming a light wave separation lattice includes depositing a first layer having a predetermined desired refractive index atop a substrate by a physical vapor deposition process; and depositing a second layer, different from the first layer, atop the first layer, wherein the second layer has a predetermined second refractive index different from the first refractive index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: DANIEL LEE DIEHL, YONG CAO, MINGWEI ZHU, TAI-CHOU PAPO CHEN
  • Publication number: 20150132551
    Abstract: A method for forming an anti-reflective coating (ARC) includes positioning a substrate below a target and flowing a first gas to deposit a first portion of the graded ARC onto the substrate. The method includes gradually flowing a second gas to deposit a second portion of the graded ARC, and gradually flowing a third gas while simultaneously gradually decreasing the flow of the second gas to deposit a third portion of the graded ARC. The method also includes flowing the third gas after stopping the flow of the second gas to form a fourth portion of the graded ARC. In another embodiment a film stack having a substrate having a graded ARC disposed thereon is provided. The graded ARC includes a first portion, a second portion disposed on the first portion, a third portion disposed on the second portion, and a fourth portion disposed on the third portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Yong CAO, Daniel Lee DIEHL, Rongjun WANG, Xianmin TANG, Tai-Chou Papo CHEN, Tingjun XU
  • Publication number: 20140327117
    Abstract: The embodiments herein provides methods for forming a PVD silicon oxide or silicon rich oxide, or PVD SiN or silicon rich SiN, or SiC or silicon rich SiC, or combination of the preceding including a variation which includes controlled doping of hydrogen into the compounds heretofore referred to as SiOxNyCz:Hw, where w, x, y, and z can vary in concentration from 0% to 100%, is produced as a hardmask with optical properties that are substantially matched to the photo-resists at the exposure wavelength. Thus making the hardmask optically planarized with respect to the photo-resist. This allows for multiple sequences of litho and etches in the hardmask while the photo-resist maintains essentially no optical topography or reflectivity variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Dennis BENCHER, Daniel Lee DIEHL, Huixiong DAI, Yong CAO, Tingjun XU, Weimin (Wilson) ZENG, Peng XIE
  • Publication number: 20140264363
    Abstract: Oxygen controlled PVD AlN buffers for GaN-based optoelectronic and electronic devices is described. Methods of forming a PVD AlN buffer for GaN-based optoelectronic and electronic devices in an oxygen controlled manner are also described. In an example, a method of forming an aluminum nitride (AlN) buffer layer for GaN-based optoelectronic or electronic devices involves reactive sputtering an AlN layer above a substrate, the reactive sputtering involving reacting an aluminum-containing target housed in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber with a nitrogen-containing gas or a plasma based on a nitrogen-containing gas. The method further involves incorporating oxygen into the AlN layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Mingwei Zhu, Nag B. Patibandla, Rongjun Wang, Daniel Lee Diehl, Vivek Agrawal, Anantha Subramani