Patents by Inventor Eric A. Hudson

Eric A. Hudson 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).

  • Publication number: 20160260620
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants having low sticking coefficients in some embodiments. The protective coating may also be deposited using particular reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating. In some cases the protective coating is deposited using plasma assisted atomic layer deposition or plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Scott Briggs, Eric A. Hudson
  • Publication number: 20160260617
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants and/or reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating at relatively low temperatures without the use of plasma. In some cases the protective coating is deposited using molecular layer deposition techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Inventors: Eric A. Hudson, Dennis M. Hausmann, Joseph Scott Briggs
  • Patent number: 9418859
    Abstract: Methods for etching a substrate in a plasma processing chamber having at least a primary plasma generating region and a secondary plasma generating region separated from said primary plasma generating region by a semi-barrier structure. The method includes generating a primary plasma from a primary feed gas in the primary plasma generating region. The method also includes generating a secondary plasma from a secondary feed gas in the secondary plasma generating region to enable at least some species from the secondary plasma to migrate into the primary plasma generating region. The method additionally includes etching the substrate with the primary plasma after the primary plasma has been augmented with migrated species from the secondary plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Hudson, Andrew D. Bailey, III, Rajinder Dhindsa
  • Publication number: 20160208645
    Abstract: A cooling scheme for a blade outer air seal includes a perimeter cooling arrangement configured to convectively cool a perimeter of the blade outer air seal, and a core cooling arrangement configured to cool a central portion of the blade outer air seal through impingement cooling and to provide film cooling to an inner diameter face of the blade outer air seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Inventors: Susan M. Tholen, Dominic J. Mongillo, Paul M. Lutjen, James N. Knapp, Virginia L. Ross, Jonathan J. Earl, Eric A. Hudson
  • Patent number: 9396961
    Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatus for etching a recessed feature in dielectric material. In various embodiments, a recessed feature is formed in two etching operations. The first etching operation partially etches the features and may take place in a reactor configured to produce a capacitively coupled plasma. The first etching operation may end before the underlying semiconductor material experiences substantial damage due to penetration of ions through the dielectric atop the semiconductor material. The second etching operation may take place in a reactor configured to produce an inductively coupled plasma. Both the first and second etching operations may themselves be multi-step, cyclic processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Reza Arghavani, Shashank C. Deshmukh, Eric A. Hudson, Tom Kamp, Samantha Tan, Gerardo Adrian Delgadino
  • Publication number: 20160201491
    Abstract: A variable area turbine arrangement according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a variable vane assembly and a secondary flow system associated with the variable vane assembly. Flow modulation of a cooling fluid through the secondary flow system is changed simultaneously with actuation of the variable vane assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Raymond SURACE, Eric A. HUDSON
  • Patent number: 9384979
    Abstract: A method for depositing a conformal film on a substrate in a plasma processing chamber of a plasma processing system, the substrate being disposed on a chuck, the chuck being coupled to a cooling apparatus, is disclosed. The method includes flowing a first gas mixture into the plasma processing chamber at a first pressure, wherein the first gas mixture includes at least carbon, and wherein the first gas mixture has a condensation temperature. The method also includes cooling the chuck below the condensation temperature using the cooling apparatus thereby allowing at least some of the first gas mixture to condense on a surface of the substrate. The method further includes venting the first gas mixture from the processing chamber; flowing a second gas mixture into the plasma processing chamber, the second gas mixture being different in composition from the first gas mixture; and striking a plasma to form the conformal film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Dae-Han Choi, Jisoo Kim, Eric Hudson, Sangheon Lee, Conan Chiang, S. M. Reza Sadjadi
  • Patent number: 9384998
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants and/or reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating at relatively low temperatures without the use of plasma. In some cases the protective coating is deposited using molecular layer deposition techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Eric A. Hudson, Dennis M. Hausmann, Joseph Scott Briggs
  • Patent number: 9385021
    Abstract: System and methods for plasma processing of a wafer include a chamber with an electrode having a support surface and an outer edge region defined thereon. A radio frequency power is communicated to the electrode via a conductive delivery connection and returned through a conductive return connection. A capacitance is applied to a first end that causes appropriate capacitive adjustment and opposite impedance adjustment at a second end of the conductive delivery connection that is coupled to a dielectric surround structure that surrounds the electrode. The dielectric surround structure presents the opposite impedance adjustment near an outer edge of the electrode, such that increasing the capacitance at the first end causes a corresponding increase of impedance at the second end and a corresponding increase in voltage distribution near the outer edge region of the electrode that decreases toward a center of the support surface of the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Zhigang Chen, Eric Hudson
  • Patent number: 9378971
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants having low sticking coefficients in some embodiments. The protective coating may also be deposited using particular reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating. In some cases the protective coating is deposited using plasma assisted atomic layer deposition or plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Scott Briggs, Eric A. Hudson
  • Publication number: 20160181117
    Abstract: The embodiments herein relate to methods and apparatus for etching a recessed feature in dielectric material. In various embodiments, a recessed feature is formed in two etching operations. The first etching operation partially etches the features and may take place in a reactor configured to produce a capacitively coupled plasma. The first etching operation may end before the underlying semiconductor material experiences substantial damage due to penetration of ions through the dielectric atop the semiconductor material. The second etching operation may take place in a reactor configured to produce an inductively coupled plasma. Both the first and second etching operations may themselves be multi-step, cyclic processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Reza Arghavani, Shashank C. Deshmukh, Eric A. Hudson, Tom Kamp, Samantha Tan, Gerardo Adrian Delgadino
  • Publication number: 20160163561
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants and/or reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating at relatively low temperatures without the use of plasma. In some cases the protective coating is deposited using molecular layer deposition techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Eric A. Hudson, Dennis M. Hausmann, Joseph Scott Briggs
  • Publication number: 20160163556
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants having low sticking coefficients in some embodiments. The protective coating may also be deposited using particular reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating. In some cases the protective coating is deposited using plasma assisted atomic layer deposition or plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Joseph Scott Briggs, Eric A. Hudson
  • Publication number: 20160163557
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in dielectric material on a substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in substantial preservation of a mask layer on the substrate. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reactants and/or reaction conditions that are unlikely to damage the mask layer. The protective coating may also be deposited using particular reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Eric A. Hudson, Nikhil Dole
  • Publication number: 20160163558
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein relate to methods, apparatus and systems for forming a recessed feature in a dielectric-containing stack on a semiconductor substrate. Separate etching and deposition operations are employed in a cyclic manner. Each etching operation partially etches the feature. Each deposition operation forms a protective coating (e.g., a metal-containing coating) on the sidewalls of the feature to prevent lateral etch of the dielectric material during the etching operations. The protective coating may be deposited using methods that result in formation of the protective coating along substantially the entire length of the sidewalls. The protective coating may be deposited using particular reaction mechanisms that result in substantially complete sidewall coating. Metal-containing coatings have been shown to provide particularly good resistance to lateral etch during the etching operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventors: Eric A. Hudson, Mark H. Wilcoxson, Kalman Pelhos, Hyung Joo Shin
  • Publication number: 20160155615
    Abstract: A capacitively-coupled plasma (CCP) processing system having a plasma processing chamber for processing a substrate is provided. The capacitively-coupled Plasma (CCP) processing system includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode for processing the substrate, which is disposed on the lower electrode during plasma processing. The capacitively-coupled Plasma (CCP) processing system also includes an array of inductor coils arrangement configured to inductively sustain plasma in a gap between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Alexei MARAKHTANOV, Eric A. HUDSON, Rajinder DHINDSA, Neil BENJAMIN
  • Publication number: 20160148786
    Abstract: Embodiments for processing a substrate in a pulsed plasma chamber are provided. A processing apparatus with two chambers, separated by a plate fluidly connecting the chambers, includes a continuous wave (CW) controller, a pulse controller, and a system controller. The CW controller sets the voltage and the frequency for a first radio frequency (RF) power source coupled to a top electrode. The pulse controller is operable to set voltage, frequency, ON-period duration, and OFF-period duration for a pulsed RF signal generated by a second RF power source coupled to the bottom electrode. The system controller is operable to set parameters to regulate the flow of species between the chambers to assist in the negative-ion etching, to neutralize excessive positive charge on the wafer surface during afterglow in the OFF period, and to assist in the re-striking of the bottom plasma during the ON period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Alexei Marakhtanov, Rajinder Dhindsa, Eric Hudson, Andrew D. Bailey, III
  • Patent number: 9287096
    Abstract: A capacitively-coupled plasma (CCP) processing system having a plasma processing chamber for processing a substrate is provided. The capacitively-coupled Plasma (CCP) processing system includes an upper electrode and a lower electrode for processing the substrate, which is disposed on the lower electrode during plasma processing. The capacitively-coupled Plasma (CCP) processing system also includes an array of inductor coils arrangement configured to inductively sustain plasma in a gap between the upper electrode and the lower electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Alexei Marakhtanov, Eric Hudson, Rajinder Dhindsa, Neil Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20160056022
    Abstract: A method of processing a substrate is provided. The method includes loading a substrate in a processing chamber. The substrate is supported on a bottom electrode and the processing chamber includes a top electrode opposing the bottom electrode. The method includes placing a plasma containment structure over a selected portion of the surface of the substrate to define a plasma containment region of the selected portion of the surface of the substrate. Then, injecting at least one process gas into the plasma containment region and biasing the top electrode and the bottom electrode. The method further includes exhausting process byproducts from the plasma containment region and moving the plasma containment region relative to the substrate to selectively passes over the entire surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: Eric Hudson
  • Publication number: 20160049304
    Abstract: A method of etching a wafer includes injecting a source gas mixture into a process chamber. The injecting includes injecting the source gas into multiple hollow cathode cavities in a top electrode, generating plasma in each of the cavities, and outputting the plasma from corresponding outlets of the cavities into a wafer processing region in the chamber, where the processing region is located between the outlets and a surface to be etched. An etchant gas mixture is injected into the processing region through injection ports in the top electrode such that the etchant gas mixes with the plasma output from the outlets. The etchant gas is prevented from flowing into the outlets of the cavities by the plasma flowing from the outlets. Mixing the etchant gas and the output from the cavities generates a desired chemical species in the processing region and thereby enables the surface to be etched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventor: Eric A. Hudson