Patents by Inventor Daniel O. Clark

Daniel O. Clark 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: 11110392
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for treating an exhaust gas in an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system includes: flowing an exhaust gas from a process chamber into a plasma source via a foreline; injecting a reagent into the foreline; forming a plasma in the plasma source from the exhaust gas and the reagent; and injecting a cleaning gas into the foreline, wherein the cleaning gas and the reagent are different gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Colin John Dickinson, Mehran Moalem, Daniel O. Clark
  • Patent number: 11049735
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device manufacturing system is provided that includes introducing an inert gas into a process tool vacuum pump at a first flow rate while the process tool is operating in a process mode, and introducing the inert gas into the process tool vacuum pump at a second flow rate while the process tool is operating in a chamber clean mode. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Phil Chandler, Jay J. Jung
  • Patent number: 10722840
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for treating an exhaust gas in an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system includes: flowing an exhaust gas and a reagent gas into an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system; injecting a non-reactive gas into the exhaust conduit to maintain a desired pressure in the exhaust conduit for conversion of the exhaust gas; and forming a plasma from the exhaust gas and reagent gas, subsequent to injecting the non-reactive gas, to convert the exhaust gas to abatable byproduct gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Colin John Dickinson, Mehran Moalem, Daniel O. Clark
  • Patent number: 10452039
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling manufacturing equipment are provided herein. In some embodiments, a manufacturing system may include an integrated controller having one or more inputs to receive input values corresponding to operating information of at least one of a process tool, a mass flow controller or at least one sub-fab auxiliary system, wherein the integrated controller is configured to receive the input values, determine that an error condition is matched based on the received input values, and control the at least one sub-fab auxiliary system to operate at a fail-safe operating mode responsive to the determined error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Youssef A. Loldj, Shaun W. Crawford, Maxime Cayer, Tony H. Tong, Eric Rieske
  • Publication number: 20190282956
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for treating an exhaust gas in an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system includes: flowing an exhaust gas from a process chamber into a plasma source via a foreline; injecting a reagent into the foreline; forming a plasma in the plasma source from the exhaust gas and the reagent; and injecting a cleaning gas into the foreline, wherein the cleaning gas and the reagent are different gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: COLIN JOHN DICKINSON, MEHRAN MOALEM, DANIEL O. CLARK
  • Publication number: 20170329293
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling manufacturing equipment are provided herein. In some embodiments, a manufacturing system may include an integrated controller having one or more inputs to receive input values corresponding to operating information of at least one of a process tool, a mass flow controller or at least one sub-fab auxiliary system, wherein the integrated controller is configured to receive the input values, determine that an error condition is matched based on the received input values, and control the at least one sub-fab auxiliary system to operate at a fail-safe operating mode responsive to the determined error condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: DANIEL O. CLARK, YOUSSEF A. LOLDJ, SHAUN W. CRAWFORD, MAXIME CAYER, TONY H. TONG, ERIC RIESKE
  • Publication number: 20170256425
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device manufacturing system is provided that includes introducing an inert gas into a process tool vacuum pump at a first flow rate while the process tool is operating in a process mode, and introducing the inert gas into the process tool vacuum pump at a second flow rate while the process tool is operating in a chamber clean mode. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Phil Chandler, Jay J. Jung
  • Patent number: 9740182
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling manufacturing equipment are provided herein. In some embodiments, a manufacturing system may include an integrated controller having one or more inputs to receive input values corresponding to operating information of at least one of a process tool, a mass flow controller or at least one sub-fab auxiliary system, wherein the integrated controller is configured to receive the input values, determine that an error condition is matched based on the received input values, and control the at least one sub-fab auxiliary system to operate at a fail-safe operating mode responsive to the determined error condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Youssef A. Loldj, Shaun W. Crawford, Maxime Cayer, Tony H. Tong, Eric Rieske
  • Publication number: 20170173521
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method for treating an exhaust gas in an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system includes: flowing an exhaust gas and a reagent gas into an exhaust conduit of a substrate processing system; injecting a non-reactive gas into the exhaust conduit to maintain a desired pressure in the exhaust conduit for conversion of the exhaust gas; and forming a plasma from the exhaust gas and reagent gas, subsequent to injecting the non-reactive gas, to convert the exhaust gas to abatable byproduct gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Colin John DICKINSON, Mehran MOALEM, Daniel O. CLARK
  • Patent number: 9685352
    Abstract: An electronic device manufacturing system is provided that may reduce the amount of resources used in electronic device manufacturing processes. In some embodiments, unreacted ozone exiting a process tool operating in an ozone mode may be diverted and used as an oxidant in an abatement tool when the process tool is operating in a non-ozone mode. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Phil Chandler, Jay J. Jung
  • Patent number: 9597634
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system includes a plasma source coupled to a foreline of a process chamber, a reagent source coupled to the foreline upstream of the plasma source, and a foreline gas injection kit coupled to the foreline to controllably deliver a gas to the foreline, wherein the foreline injection kit includes a pressure regulator to set a foreline gas delivery pressure setpoint, and a first pressure gauge coupled to monitor a delivery pressure of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Colin John Dickinson, Mehran Moalem, Daniel O. Clark
  • Patent number: 9387428
    Abstract: A system for treating flammable effluent gas is provided. The system includes an exhaust conduit to carry the flammable effluent gas to an abatement unit, a control system coupled to the abatement unit to determine an operating parameter of the abatement unit, a bypass valve coupled to the exhaust conduit which is an operative responsive to the monitoring system, and a source of second gas to be mixed with the effluent gas diverted from the abatement unit when the bypass valve is operating in a bypass mode to provide a mixed gas having a flammability lower than the effluent gas. Methods of the invention as well as numerous other aspects are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Mehran Moalem, Robbert M. Vermeulen, Phil Chandler
  • Patent number: 9075408
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhanced control, monitoring and recording of incoming chemical and power use, and emissions of electronic device manufacturing systems are provided. In some embodiments, integrated sub-fab system systems may monitor the energy usage of the sub-fab equipment. The tool can enter many different depths of energy savings modes such as idle (shallow energy savings where production equipment can recover to normal production with no quality or throughput impact in seconds), sleep (deeper energy savings where production equipment can recover in minutes), or hibernate (where production equipment may require hours to recover not to have impact on quality, or throughput) for the system. In some embodiments, the system may monitor and display all gas emissions in a sub-fab as well as the Semi S23 method reporting of CO2 equivalent emission. The system may monitor effluent process gases and energy use from the process tool and sub-fab equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Youssef A. Loldj, Maxime Cayer, Jay J. Jung, Shaun Crawford, Dana Tribula, Daniel O. Clark
  • Publication number: 20150136239
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device manufacturing system is provided that includes introducing an inert gas into a process tool vacuum pump at a first flow rate while the process tool is operating in a process mode; and introducing the inert gas into the process tool vacuum pump at a second flow rate while the process tool is operating in a clean mode. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Phil Chandler, Jay J. Jung
  • Patent number: 8974605
    Abstract: A method for operating an electronic device manufacturing system is provided, including: introducing an inert gas into a process tool vacuum pump at a first flow rate while the process tool is operating in a process mode; and introducing the inert gas into the process tool vacuum pump at a second flow rate while the process tool is operating in a clean mode. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel O. Clark, Phil Chandler, Jay J. Jung
  • Publication number: 20140291139
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system includes a plasma source coupled to a foreline of a process chamber, a reagent source coupled to the foreline upstream of the plasma source, and a foreline gas injection kit coupled to the foreline to controllably deliver a gas to the foreline, wherein the foreline injection kit includes a pressure regulator to set a foreline gas delivery pressure setpoint, and a first pressure gauge coupled to monitor a delivery pressure of the gas upstream of the foreline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: COLIN JOHN DICKINSON, MEHRAN MOALEM, DANIEL O. CLARK
  • Patent number: 8747762
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for treating an exhaust gas in a foreline of a substrate processing system includes a plasma source coupled to a foreline of a process chamber, a reagent source coupled to the foreline upstream of the plasma source, and a foreline gas injection kit coupled to the foreline to controllably deliver a gas to the foreline, wherein the foreline injection kit includes a pressure regulator to set a foreline gas delivery pressure setpoint, and a first pressure gauge coupled to monitor a delivery pressure of the gas upstream of the foreline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin John Dickinson, Mehran Moalem, Daniel O. Clark
  • Patent number: 8668868
    Abstract: A method for abating effluent from an electronic device manufacturing process is provided, including abating the effluent in a thermal abatement tool to form abated effluent; determining whether the abated effluent contains one or more chemical species of interest; and changing one or more operating parameters of the thermal abatement tool based upon the determination. Numerous other embodiments are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ho-Man Rodney Chiu, Daniel O. Clark, Shaun W. Crawford, Jay J. Jung, Youssef A. Loldj, Robbert M. Vermeulen
  • Publication number: 20130331973
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling manufacturing equipment are provided herein. In some embodiments, a manufacturing system may include an integrated controller having one or more inputs to receive input values corresponding to operating information of at least one of a process tool, a mass flow controller or at least one sub-fab auxiliary system, wherein the integrated controller is configured to receive the input values, determine that an error condition is matched based on the received input values, and control the at least one sub-fab auxiliary system to operate at a fail-safe operating mode responsive to the determined error condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: DANIEL O. CLARK, YOUSSEF A. LOLDJ, SHAUN W. CRAWFORD, MAXIME CAYER, TONY H. TONG, ERIC RIESKE
  • Patent number: 8455368
    Abstract: A method for operating one or more electronic device manufacturing systems is provided, including the steps 1) performing a series of electronic device manufacturing process steps with a process tool, wherein the process tool produces effluent as a byproduct of performing the series of process steps; 2) abating the effluent with an abatement tool; 3) supplying an abatement resource to the abatement tool from a first abatement resource supply; 4) changing an abatement resource supply from the first abatement resource supply to a second abatement resource supply, wherein changing the abatement resource supply comprises: i) interrupting a flow of the abatement resource from the first abatement resource supply; and ii) beginning a flow of the abatement resource from the second abatement resource supply; and 5) continuing to perform the series of process steps with the process tool, while changing, and after changing, the abatement resource supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Phil Chandler, Daniel O. Clark, Robbert M. Vermeulen, Jay J. Jung, Roger M. Johnson, Youssef A. Loldj, James L. Smith