Patents by Inventor Eric Kihara Shono

Eric Kihara Shono 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: 20210262093
    Abstract: A gas supply member includes a first side opposite a second side and an inner surface defining a first opening extending between the first and second sides. The gas supply member includes a third side orthogonal to the first side, the third side includes a first extension that has a face partially defining the second side, and the first extension includes a first plurality of holes extending through the first extension to the face. The gas supply member includes a fourth side opposite the third side, the fourth side includes a protrusion that has a face partially defining the second side. The gas supply member also includes a baffle disposed adjacent to the inner surface, the baffle includes a first portion extending from the inner surface and a second portion attached to the first portion, and the second portion orthogonal to the first portion and parallel to the third side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Kartik SHAH, Vishwas Kumar PANDEY, Kailash PRADHAN, Sairaju TALLAVARJULA, Rene GEORGE, Eric Kihara SHONO, Philip A. BOTTINI, Roger CURTIS
  • Patent number: 11081340
    Abstract: Methods for conformal radical oxidation of structures are provided. The method comprises positioning a substrate in a processing region of a processing chamber. The method further comprises flowing hydrogen gas into a precursor activator at a first flow rate, wherein the precursor activator is fluidly coupled with the processing region. The method further comprises flowing oxygen gas into the precursor activator at a second flow rate. The method further comprises flowing argon gas into the precursor activator at a third flow rate. The method further comprises generating a plasma in the precursor activator from the hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, and argon gas. The method further comprises flowing the plasma into the processing region. The method further comprises exposing the substrate to the plasma to form an oxide film on the substrate, wherein a growth rate of the oxide film is controlled by adjusting the third flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hansel Lo, Christopher S. Olsen, Eric Kihara Shono, Johanes S. Swenberg, Erika Hansen, Taewan Kim, Lara Hawrylchak
  • Patent number: 11077410
    Abstract: Gas injectors for providing uniform flow of fluid are provided herein. The gas injector includes a plenum body. The plenum body includes a recess, a protrusion adjacent to the recess and extending laterally away from the plenum body, and a plurality of nozzles extending laterally from an exterior surface of the plenum body. The plenum body has a plurality of holes in an exterior wall of the plenum body. Each nozzle is in fluid communication with an interior volume of the plenum body. By directing the flow of fluid, the gas injector provides for a uniform deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Lara Hawrylchak, Eric Kihara Shono, Kartik Shah, Christopher S. Olsen, Sairaju Tallavarjula, Kailash Pradhan, Rene George, Johanes F. Swenberg, Stephen Moffatt
  • Patent number: 11049696
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a processing chamber for conformal oxidation of high aspect ratio structures. The processing chamber includes a chamber body with a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a flow assembly disposed in the first side. The flow assembly includes a flow divider to direct fluid flow away from a center of a substrate disposed in a processing region of the processing chamber. The flow divider includes a crescent shaped first side, a top, and a bottom. The processing chamber also includes a distributed pumping structure located adjacent to the second side. The flow assembly is designed to reduce flow constriction of the radicals, leading to increased radical concentration and flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Kartik Shah, Christopher S. Olsen, Agus Sofian Tjandra, Hansel Lo, Eric Kihara Shono, Hemantha Raju
  • Publication number: 20210074505
    Abstract: In one example, a chamber inlet assembly includes a chamber inlet, an outer coupling for a delivery line, and an inner coupling for a processing region of a processing chamber. The inner coupling and the outer coupling are on inner and outer ends, respectively, of the chamber inlet, wherein a cross-sectional area of the inner coupling is larger than a cross-sectional area of the outer coupling. The chamber inlet assembly also includes a longitudinal profile including the inner and outer ends and a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being on opposite sides of the chamber inlet, wherein a shape of the longitudinal profile comprises at least one of triangular, modified triangular, trapezoidal, modified trapezoidal, rectangular, modified rectangular, rhomboidal, and modified rhomboidal. The chamber inlet assembly also includes cassette including the chamber inlet and configured to set into a side wall of the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Eric Kihara SHONO, Vishwas Kumar PANDEY, Christopher S. OLSEN, Hansel LO, Agus Sofian TJANDRA, Taewan KIM, Tobin KAUFMAN-OSBORN
  • Publication number: 20200407844
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide apparatuses for improving gas distribution during thermal processing. In one or more embodiments, an apparatus includes a body, an angled gas source assembly, and a gas injection channel. The gas injection channel has a first half-angle and a second half-angle. The first half-angle is different from the second half-angle. The use of an improved side gas assembly in a processing chamber to direct gas from the center toward the edge of the substrate advantageously controls growth uniformity throughout the substrate. Surprisingly, directing gas through a gas channel with non-uniform half-angles will significantly increase the reaction at or near the edge of the substrate, thereby leading to an improved overall thickness uniformity of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Publication date: December 31, 2020
    Inventor: Eric Kihara SHONO
  • Patent number: 10847337
    Abstract: In one example, a chamber inlet assembly includes a chamber inlet, an outer coupling for a delivery line, and an inner coupling for a processing region of a processing chamber. The inner coupling and the outer coupling are on inner and outer ends, respectively, of the chamber inlet, wherein a cross-sectional area of the inner coupling is larger than a cross-sectional area of the outer coupling. The chamber inlet assembly also includes a longitudinal profile including the inner and outer ends and a first side and a second side, the first and second sides being on opposite sides of the chamber inlet, wherein a shape of the longitudinal profile comprises at least one of triangular, modified triangular, trapezoidal, modified trapezoidal, rectangular, modified rectangular, rhomboidal, and modified rhomboidal. The chamber inlet assembly also includes cassette including the chamber inlet and configured to set into a side wall of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Kihara Shono, Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Christopher S. Olsen, Hansel Lo, Agus Sofian Tjandra, Taewan Kim, Tobin Kaufman-Osborn
  • Patent number: 10752991
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for improving gas distribution during thermal processing. One implementation of the present disclosure provides an apparatus for thermal processing a substrate. The apparatus includes a body, an angled gas source assembly, and a gas injection channel. The gas injection channel has a first half-angle and a second half-angle. The first half-angle is different from the second half-angle. The use of an improved side gas assembly in a processing chamber to direct gas towards the edge of the substrate advantageously controls growth uniformity throughout the substrate, i.e., from the center to the edge. Surprisingly, directing gas through a gas channel with non-uniform half-angles will significantly increase the reaction at or near the edge of the substrate, thereby leading to an improved overall thickness uniformity of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Kihara Shono
  • Publication number: 20200251331
    Abstract: Methods for conformal radical oxidation of structures are provided. The method comprises positioning a substrate in a processing region of a processing chamber. The method further comprises flowing hydrogen gas into a precursor activator at a first flow rate, wherein the precursor activator is fluidly coupled with the processing region. The method further comprises flowing oxygen gas into the precursor activator at a second flow rate. The method further comprises flowing argon gas into the precursor activator at a third flow rate. The method further comprises generating a plasma in the precursor activator from the hydrogen gas, oxygen gas, and argon gas. The method further comprises flowing the plasma into the processing region. The method further comprises exposing the substrate to the plasma to form an oxide film on the substrate, wherein a growth rate of the oxide film is controlled by adjusting the third flow rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Hansel LO, Christopher S. OLSEN, Eric Kihara SHONO, Johanes S. SWENBERG, Erika HANSEN, Taewan KIM, Lara HAWRYLCHAK
  • Publication number: 20200240014
    Abstract: A gas injector for processing a substrate includes a body having an inlet connectable to a gas source that is configured to provide a gas flow in a first direction into the inlet when processing a substrate on a substrate support disposed within a processing volume of a processing chamber, and an a gas injection channel formed in the body. The gas injection channel is in fluid communication with the inlet and configured to deliver the gas flow to an inlet of the processing chamber. The gas injection channel has a first interior surface and a second interior surface that are parallel to a second direction and a third direction. The second and third directions do not intersect a center of the substrate, and are at an angle to the first direction towards a first edge of the substrate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Eric Kihara Shono, Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Christopher S. Olsen, Kartik Shah, Hansel Lo, Tobin Kaufman-Osborn, Rene George, Lara Hawrylchak, Erika Hansen
  • Publication number: 20200219703
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a processing chamber for conformal oxidation of high aspect ratio structures. The processing chamber includes a chamber body with a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a flow assembly disposed in the first side. The flow assembly includes a flow divider to direct fluid flow away from a center of a substrate disposed in a processing region of the processing chamber. The flow divider includes a crescent shaped first side, a top, and a bottom. The processing chamber also includes a distributed pumping structure located adjacent to the second side. The flow assembly is designed to reduce flow constriction of the radicals, leading to increased radical concentration and flux.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Vishwas Kumar PANDEY, Kartik SHAH, Christopher S. OLSEN, Agus Sofian TJANDRA, Hansel LO, Eric Kihara SHONO, Hemantha RAJU
  • Publication number: 20200199748
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides methods of providing at least metastable radical molecular species and/or radical atomic species to a processing volume of a process chamber during an electronic device fabrication process, and apparatus related thereto. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a gas injection assembly disposed between a remote plasma source and a process chamber. The gas injection assembly includes a body, a dielectric liner disposed in the body that defines a gas mixing volume, a first flange to couple the gas injection assembly to a process chamber, and a second flange to couple the gas injection assembly to the remote plasma source. The gas injection assembly further includes one or more gas injection ports formed through the body and the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Vishwas Kumar PANDEY, Eric Kihara SHONO, Kartik SHAH, Christopher S. OLSEN, Agus Sofian TJANDRA, Tobin KAUFMAN-OSBORN, Taewan KIM, Hansel LO
  • Patent number: 10636650
    Abstract: Methods for conformal radical oxidation of structures are provided. In one implementation, the method comprises flowing hydrogen into a processing chamber at a first flow rate, wherein the processing chamber has a substrate positioned therein. The method further comprises flowing oxygen into a precursor activator at a second flow rate. The method further comprises flowing argon into the precursor activator at a third flow rate. The method further comprises generating a plasma in the precursor activator from the oxygen and argon. The method further comprises flowing the plasma into the processing chamber, wherein the plasma mixes with the hydrogen gas to create an activated processing gas. The method further comprises exposing the substrate to the activated gas to form an oxide film on the substrate. A growth rate of the oxide film is controlled by adjusting the third flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Hansel Lo, Christopher S. Olsen, Eric Kihara Shono, Johanes S. Swenberg, Erika Hansen, Taewan Kim, Lara Hawrylchak
  • Patent number: 10636626
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a processing chamber for conformal oxidation of high aspect ratio structures. The processing chamber includes a chamber body with a first side and a second side opposite the first side, and a flow assembly disposed in the first side. The flow assembly includes a flow divider to direct fluid flow away from a center of a substrate disposed in a processing region of the processing chamber. The flow divider includes a crescent shaped first side, a top, and a bottom. The processing chamber also includes a distributed pumping structure located adjacent to the second side. The flow assembly is designed to reduce flow constriction of the radicals, leading to increased radical concentration and flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Kartik Shah, Christopher S. Olsen, Agus Sofian Tjandra, Hansel Lo, Eric Kihara Shono, Hemantha Raju
  • Publication number: 20190295822
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides methods of providing at least metastable radical molecular species and, or, radical atomic species to a processing volume of a processing chamber during an electronic device fabrication process, and apparatus related thereto. In one embodiment, the apparatus is a gas injection assembly disposed between a remote plasma source and a processing chamber, where the gas injection assembly includes a body, a rigid dielectric liner disposed in the body, wherein the rigid dielectric liner defines a gas mixing volume, a first flange comprising a first mounting surface (to couple the gas injection assembly to a processing chamber), a second flange comprising a second mounting surface (to couple the gas injection assembly to the remote plasma source), and one or more gas injection ports formed through the body and the liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher S. OLSEN, Agus Sofian TJANDRA, Eric Kihara SHONO
  • Patent number: D875053
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Kihara Shono
  • Patent number: D875054
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Kihara Shono
  • Patent number: D875055
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Kihara Shono
  • Patent number: D882536
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Kihara Shono
  • Patent number: D924825
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kihara Shono, Vishwas Kumar Pandey, Christopher S. Olsen, Hansel Lo, Agus Sofian Tjandra, Taewan Kim, Tobin Kaufman-Osborn