Patents by Inventor Easwar Srinivasan

Easwar Srinivasan 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: 11955366
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer. A pedestal assembly includes a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal assembly. A raising mechanism separates the lift pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, and a lever rotatably attached to the lift pad bracket. The lever rests on the roller when not engaged with the upper hard stop. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates about a pin when engaging the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the lift pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20230257878
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates, in part, to an apparatus for controlling the concentration of a component within a gas mixture. In particular embodiments, the component is a vaporized liquid component, such as a vaporized stabilizer or a vaporized precursor. Also described are systems thereof and methods for such control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Easwar Srinivasan, Erica Sakura Strandberg Pohl, Andrew Borth, Aleksey V. Altecor
  • Publication number: 20220352004
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer. A pedestal assembly includes a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal assembly. A raising mechanism separates the lift pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, and a lever rotatably attached to the lift pad bracket. The lever rests on the roller when not engaged with the upper hard stop. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates about a pin when engaging the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the lift pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11387136
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer. A pedestal assembly includes a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal assembly. A raising mechanism separates the lift pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, and a lever rotatably attached to the lift pad bracket. The lever rests on the roller when not engaged with the upper hard stop. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates about a pin when engaging the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the lift pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11183400
    Abstract: A heater control system for heating components of a substrate processing system includes N heater zones, where N is an integer greater than zero. Each of the N heater zones heats a component of the substrate processing system and includes a resistive heater and a temperature sensor to sense a local temperature in a corresponding one of the N heater zones. A controller is configured to determine an average temperature of each of the N heater zones based on a resistance of the resistive heater in each of the N heater zones. The controller controls the resistive heater based on the average temperature and the local temperature in each of the N heater zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ramesh Chandrasekharan, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11056380
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer and including a pedestal extending from a central axis. An actuator is configured for controlling movement of the pedestal. A central shaft extends between the actuator and pedestal, the central shaft configured to move the pedestal along the central axis. A lift pad is configured to rest upon the pedestal and having a pad top surface configured to support a wafer placed thereon. A pad shaft extends between the actuator and the lift pad and controls movement of the lift pad. The pad shaft is positioned within the central shaft and is configured to separate the lift pad from the pedestal top surface by a process rotation displacement when the pedestal is in an upwards position. The pad shaft is configured to rotate relative to the pedestal top surface between first and second angular orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10870922
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer including a pedestal assembly having a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal. A raising mechanism separates the pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, a lever rotatably attached to lift pad bracket, a ferroseal assembly surrounding the pad shaft, and a yoke assembly offsetting a moment to the ferroseal assembly when the lever rotates. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates when engaging with the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10872747
    Abstract: A showerhead for a plasma chamber comprises a resistive heater configured to receive power to heat the showerhead of the plasma chamber, and a resistive element thermally bonded to the showerhead of the plasma chamber. The resistive element changes resistance in response to a change in temperature of the showerhead. The resistive element is encapsulated in an insulating material to electrically insulate the resistive element from the showerhead. The insulating material is a good conductor of heat. The power to the resistive heater is received based on the resistance of the resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nick Ray Linebarger, Jr., Curtis W. Bailey, Easwar Srinivasan, Devon Pelkey
  • Publication number: 20200312703
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer and including a pedestal extending from a central axis. An actuator is configured for controlling movement of the pedestal. A central shaft extends between the actuator and pedestal, the central shaft configured to move the pedestal along the central axis. A lift pad is configured to rest upon the pedestal and having a pad top surface configured to support a wafer placed thereon. A pad shaft extends between the actuator and the lift pad and controls movement of the lift pad. The pad shaft is positioned within the central shaft and is configured to separate the lift pad from the pedestal top surface by a process rotation displacement when the pedestal is in an upwards position. The pad shaft is configured to rotate relative to the pedestal top surface between first and second angular orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10699937
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer and including a pedestal extending from a central axis. An actuator is configured for controlling movement of the pedestal. A central shaft extends between the actuator and pedestal, the central shaft configured to move the pedestal along the central axis. A lift pad is configured to rest upon the pedestal and having a pad top surface configured to support a wafer placed thereon. A pad shaft extends between the actuator and the lift pad and controls movement of the lift pad. The pad shaft is positioned within the central shaft and is configured to separate the lift pad from the pedestal top surface by a process rotation displacement when the pedestal is in an upwards position. The pad shaft is configured to rotate relative to the pedestal top surface between first and second angular orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20200173016
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer including a pedestal assembly having a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal. A raising mechanism separates the pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, a lever rotatably attached to lift pad bracket, a ferroseal assembly surrounding the pad shaft, and a yoke assembly offsetting a moment to the ferroseal assembly when the lever rotates. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates when engaging with the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20200176301
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer. A pedestal assembly includes a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal assembly. A raising mechanism separates the lift pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, and a lever rotatably attached to the lift pad bracket. The lever rests on the roller when not engaged with the upper hard stop. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates about a pin when engaging the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the lift pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10584415
    Abstract: A temperature controlled showerhead for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers enhances heat dissipation to enable accurate temperature control with an electric heater. Heat dissipates by conduction through a showerhead stem and fluid passageway and radiation from a back plate. A temperature control system includes one or more temperature controlled showerheads in a CVD chamber with fluid passageways serially connected to a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Henner Meinhold, Dan M. Doble, Stephen Lau, Vince Wilson, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10570515
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer including a pedestal assembly having a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal. A raising mechanism separates the pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, a lever rotatably attached to lift pad bracket, a ferroseal assembly surrounding the pad shaft, and a yoke assembly offsetting a moment to the ferroseal assembly when the lever rotates. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates when engaging with the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10573549
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer. A pedestal assembly includes a pedestal movably mounted to a main frame. A lift pad rests upon the pedestal and moves with the pedestal assembly. A raising mechanism separates the lift pad from the pedestal, and includes a hard stop fixed to the main frame, a roller attached to the pedestal assembly, a slide moveably attached to the pedestal assembly, a lift pad bracket interconnected to the slide and a pad shaft extending from the lift pad, and a lever rotatably attached to the lift pad bracket. The lever rests on the roller when not engaged with the upper hard stop. When the pedestal assembly moves upwards, the lever rotates about a pin when engaging the upper hard stop and roller, and separates the lift pad from the pedestal by a process rotation displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20200051834
    Abstract: A heater control system for heating components of a substrate processing system includes N heater zones, where N is an integer greater than zero. Each of the N heater zones heats a component of the substrate processing system and includes a resistive heater and a temperature sensor to sense a local temperature in a corresponding one of the N heater zones. A controller is configured to determine an average temperature of each of the N heater zones based on a resistance of the resistive heater in each of the N heater zones. The controller controls the resistive heater based on the average temperature and the local temperature in each of the N heater zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Ramesh CHANDRASEKHARAN, Easwar SRINIVASAN
  • Publication number: 20200051789
    Abstract: A showerhead for a plasma chamber comprises a resistive heater configured to receive power to heat the showerhead of the plasma chamber, and a resistive element thermally bonded to the showerhead of the plasma chamber. The resistive element changes resistance in response to a change in temperature of the showerhead. The resistive element is encapsulated in an insulating material to electrically insulate the resistive element from the showerhead. The insulating material is a good conductor of heat. The power to the resistive heater is received based on the resistance of the resistive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Nick Ray LINEBARGER, JR., Curtis W. BAILEY, Easwar SRINIVASAN, Devon PELKEY
  • Publication number: 20190341292
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer and including a pedestal extending from a central axis. An actuator is configured for controlling movement of the pedestal. A central shaft extends between the actuator and pedestal, the central shaft configured to move the pedestal along the central axis. A lift pad is configured to rest upon the pedestal and having a pad top surface configured to support a wafer placed thereon. A pad shaft extends between the actuator and the lift pad and controls movement of the lift pad. The pad shaft is positioned within the central shaft and is configured to separate the lift pad from the pedestal top surface by a process rotation displacement when the pedestal is in an upwards position. The pad shaft is configured to rotate relative to the pedestal top surface between first and second angular orientations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Publication number: 20190256977
    Abstract: A temperature controlled showerhead for chemical vapor deposition (CVD) chambers enhances heat dissipation to enable accurate temperature control with an electric heater. Heat dissipates by conduction through a showerhead stem and fluid passageway and radiation from a back plate. A temperature control system includes one or more temperature controlled showerheads in a CVD chamber with fluid passageways serially connected to a heat exchanger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Henner Meinhold, Dan M. Doble, Stephen Lau, Vince Wilson, Easwar Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10354909
    Abstract: An assembly used in a process chamber for depositing a film on a wafer and including a pedestal extending from a central axis. An actuator is configured for controlling movement of the pedestal. A central shaft extends between the actuator and pedestal, the central shaft configured to move the pedestal along the central axis. A lift pad is configured to rest upon the pedestal and having a pad top surface configured to support a wafer placed thereon. A pad shaft extends between the actuator and the lift pad and controls movement of the lift pad. The pad shaft is positioned within the central shaft and is configured to separate the lift pad from the pedestal top surface by a process rotation displacement when the pedestal is in an upwards position. The pad shaft is configured to rotate relative to the pedestal top surface between first and second angular orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Konkola, Karl F. Leeser, Easwar Srinivasan