Patents by Inventor Eric Pape

Eric Pape 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: 9012243
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to controlling CD uniformity of a wafer by controlling trim time on temperature in a plasma processing system. The plasma processing system has a wafer support assembly including a plurality of independently controllable temperature control zones across a chuck and a controller that controls each temperature control zone. The controller receives process control and temperature data associated with at least one wafer previously processed in a plasma chamber of the plasma processing system. The controller also receives critical device parameters of a current wafer to be processed in the plasma chamber. The controller calculates a target trim time and a target temperature profile of the current wafer based on the process control and temperature data of the at least one previously processed wafers and the critical device parameters of the current wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshie Kimura, Tom Kamp, Eric Pape, Rohit DeshPande, Keith Gaff, Gowri Kamarthy
  • Publication number: 20150053347
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to controlling CD uniformity of a wafer by controlling trim time on temperature in a plasma processing system. The plasma processing system has a wafer support assembly including a plurality of independently controllable temperature control zones across a chuck and a controller that controls each temperature control zone. The controller receives process control and temperature data associated with at least one wafer previously processed in a plasma chamber of the plasma processing system. The controller also receives critical device parameters of a current wafer to be processed in the plasma chamber. The controller calculates a target trim time and a target temperature profile of the current wafer based on the process control and temperature data of the at least one previously processed wafers and the critical device parameters of the current wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Yoshie Kimura, Tom Kamp, Eric Pape, Rohit DeshPande, Keith Gaff, Gowri Kamarthy
  • Patent number: 8852964
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to controlling CD uniformity of a wafer by controlling trim time on temperature in a plasma processing system. The plasma processing system has a wafer support assembly including a plurality of independently controllable temperature control zones across a chuck and a controller that controls each temperature control zone. The controller receives process control and temperature data associated with at least one wafer previously processed in a plasma chamber of the plasma processing system, and critical device parameters of a current wafer to be processed in the plasma chamber. The controller calculates a target trim time and a target temperature profile of the current wafer based on the process control and temperature data, and the critical device parameters. The current wafer is trimmed during the target trim time while the temperature of each device die location is controlled based on the target temperature profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshie Kimura, Tom Kamp, Eric Pape, Rohit DeshPande, Keith Gaff, Gowri Kamarthy
  • Publication number: 20140220709
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to controlling CD uniformity of a wafer by controlling trim time on temperature in a plasma processing system. The plasma processing system has a wafer support assembly including a plurality of independently controllable temperature control zones across a chuck and a controller that controls each temperature control zone. The controller receives process control and temperature data associated with at least one wafer previously processed in a plasma chamber of the plasma processing system, and critical device parameters of a current wafer to be processed in the plasma chamber. The controller calculates a target trim time and a target temperature profile of the current wafer based on the process control and temperature data, and the critical device parameters. The current wafer is trimmed during the target trim time while the temperature of each device die location is controlled based on the target temperature profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshie Kimura, Tom Kamp, Eric Pape, Rohit DeshPande, Keith Gaff, Gowri Kamarthy
  • Publication number: 20140154819
    Abstract: A semiconductor substrate support for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a heater array comprising thermal control elements operable to tune a spatial temperature profile on the semiconductor substrate, the thermal control elements defining heater zones each of which is powered by two or more power supply lines and two or more power return lines wherein each power supply line is connected to at least two of the heater zones and each power return line is connected to at least two of the heater zones. A power distribution circuit is mated to a baseplate of the substrate support, the power distribution circuit being connected to each power supply line and power return line of the heater array. A switching device is connected to the power distribution circuit to independently provide time-averaged power to each of the heater zones by time divisional multiplexing of a plurality of switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keith William Gaff, Tom Anderson, Keith Comendant, Ralph Jan-Pin Lu, Paul Robertson, Eric A. Pape, Neil Benjamin
  • Publication number: 20140065835
    Abstract: A flexible polymer or elastomer coated RF return strap to be used in a plasma chamber to protect the RF strap from plasma generated radicals such as fluorine and oxygen radicals, and a method of processing a semiconductor substrate with reduced particle contamination in a plasma processing apparatus. The coated RF strap minimizes particle generation and exhibits lower erosion rates than an uncoated base component. Such a coated member having a flexible coating on a conductive flexible base component provides an RF ground return configured to allow movement of one or more electrodes in an adjustable gap capacitively coupled plasma reactor chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby Kadkhodayan, Jon McChesney, Eric Pape, Rajinder Dhindsa
  • Patent number: 8522716
    Abstract: A flexible polymer or elastomer coated RF return strap to be used in a plasma chamber to protect the RF strap from plasma generated radicals such as fluorine and oxygen radicals, and a method of processing a semiconductor substrate with reduced particle contamination in a plasma processing apparatus. The coated RF strap minimizes particle generation and exhibits lower erosion rates than an uncoated base component. Such a coated member having a flexible coating on a conductive flexible base component provides an RF ground return configured to allow movement of one or more electrodes in an adjustable gap capacitively coupled plasma reactor chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby Kadkhodayan, Jon McChesney, Eric Pape, Rajinder Dhindsa
  • Patent number: 8473089
    Abstract: A method for assessing health status of a processing chamber is provided. The method includes executing a recipe. The method also includes receiving processing data from a set of sensors during execution of the recipe. The method further includes analyzing the processing data utilizing a set of multi-variate predictive models. The method yet also includes generating a set of component wear data values. The method yet further includes comparing the set of component wear data values against a set of useful life threshold ranges. The method moreover includes generating a warning if the set of component wear data values is outside of the set of useful life threshold ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Luc Albarede, Eric Pape, Vijayakumar C Venugopal, Brian D Choi
  • Patent number: 8358416
    Abstract: A processing system having a chamber for in-situ optical interrogation of plasma emission to quantitatively measure normalized optical emission spectra is provided. The processing chamber includes a confinement ring assembly, a flash lamp, and a set of quartz windows. The processing chamber also includes a plurality of collimated optical assemblies, the plurality of collimated optical assemblies are optically coupled to the set of quartz windows. The processing chamber also includes a plurality of fiber optic bundles. The processing chamber also includes a multi-channel spectrometer, the multi-channel spectrometer is configured with at least a signal channel and a reference channel, the signal channel is optically coupled to at least the flash lamp, the set of quartz windows, the set of collimated optical assemblies, the illuminated fiber optic bundle, and the collection fiber optic bundle to measure a first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Eric Pape, Jean-Paul Booth
  • Publication number: 20120170039
    Abstract: A processing system having a chamber for in-situ optical interrogation of plasma emission to quantitatively measure normalized optical emission spectra is provided. The processing chamber includes a confinement ring assembly, a flash lamp, and a set of quartz windows. The processing chamber also includes a plurality of collimated optical assemblies, the plurality of collimated optical assemblies are optically coupled to the set of quartz windows. The processing chamber also includes a plurality of fiber optic bundles. The processing chamber also includes a multi-channel spectrometer, the multi-channel spectrometer is configured with at least a signal channel and a reference channel, the signal channel is optically coupled to at least the flash lamp, the set of quartz windows, the set of collimated optical assemblies, the illuminated fiber optic bundle, and the collection fiber optic bundle to measure a first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Eric Pape, Jean-Paul Booth
  • Patent number: 8144328
    Abstract: An arrangement for in-situ optical interrogation of plasma emission to quantitatively measure normalized optical emission spectra in a plasma chamber is provided. The arrangement includes a flash lamp and a set of quartz windows. The arrangement also includes a plurality of collimated optical assemblies, which is optically coupled to the set of quartz windows. The arrangement further includes a plurality of fiber optic bundles, which comprises at least an illumination fiber optic bundle, a collection fiber optic bundle, and a reference fiber optic bundle. The arrangement more over includes a multi-channel spectrometer, which is configured with at least a signal channel and a reference channel. The signal channel is optically coupled to at least the flash lamp, the set of quartz windows, the set of collimated optical assemblies, the illuminated fiber optic bundle, and the collection fiber optic bundle to measure a first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Eric Pape, Jean-Paul Booth
  • Patent number: 7952694
    Abstract: A disclosed device comprises an edge bonding seal configured to be mounted to an edge bead of the electrostatic chuck. The edge bonding seal includes a monitoring layer comprised of a first material configured to emit a species capable of being optically monitored. The edge bonding seal further includes an edge bonding layer configured to be interspersed at least between the monitoring layer and the plasma environment. The edge bonding layer is comprised of a second material susceptible to erosion due to reaction with the plasma environment and configured to expose the monitoring layer to the plasma environment upon sufficient exposure to the plasma environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Howard, Eric Pape, Siwen Li
  • Patent number: 7907260
    Abstract: A method for optical interrogation of plasma during plasma processing in a plasma processing chamber is provided. The method includes providing an optical viewport. The method also includes providing a collimator arrangement. The collimator arrangement is configured with a plurality of collimators, wherein a first collimator of the plurality of collimators is separated by a connecting region from a second collimator in the plurality of collimators. The method further includes collecting optical signals, through the collimator arrangement, from the plasma within the plasma processing chamber while a substrate is being processed, resulting in highly collimated optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Eric A. Pape
  • Patent number: 7884925
    Abstract: A disclosed device comprises an edge bonding seal configured to be mounted to an edge bead of the electrostatic chuck. The edge bonding seal includes a monitoring layer comprised of a first material configured to either emit a species capable of being optically monitored or having an electrical resistance value capable of being monitored, or both. The edge bonding seal further includes an edge bonding layer configured to be interspersed at least between the monitoring layer and the plasma environment. The edge bonding layer is comprised of a second material susceptible to erosion due to reaction with the plasma environment and configured to expose the monitoring layer to the plasma environment upon sufficient exposure to the plasma environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Howard, Eric Pape, Siwen Li
  • Publication number: 20110007303
    Abstract: A disclosed device comprises an edge bonding seal configured to be mounted to an edge bead of the electrostatic chuck. The edge bonding seal includes a monitoring layer comprised of a first material configured to emit a species capable of being optically monitored. The edge bonding seal further includes an edge bonding layer configured to be interspersed at least between the monitoring layer and the plasma environment. The edge bonding layer is comprised of a second material susceptible to erosion due to reaction with the plasma environment and configured to expose the monitoring layer to the plasma environment upon sufficient exposure to the plasma environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley J. Howard, Eric Pape, Siwen Li
  • Publication number: 20100332201
    Abstract: A method for assessing health status of a processing chamber is provided. The method includes executing a recipe. The method also includes receiving processing data from a set of sensors during execution of the recipe. The method further includes analyzing the processing data utilizing a set of multi-variate predictive models. The method yet also includes generating a set of component wear data values. The method yet further includes comparing the set of component wear data values against a set of useful life threshold ranges. The method moreover includes generating a warning if the set of component wear data values is outside of the set of useful life threshold ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Luc Albarede, Eric Pape, Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Brian D. Choi
  • Publication number: 20090290145
    Abstract: A disclosed device comprises an edge bonding seal configured to be mounted to an edge bead of the electrostatic chuck. The edge bonding seal includes a monitoring layer comprised of a first material configured to either emit a species capable of being optically monitored or having an electrical resistance value capable of being monitored, or both. The edge bonding seal further includes an edge bonding layer configured to be interspersed at least between the monitoring layer and the plasma environment. The edge bonding layer is comprised of a second material susceptible to erosion due to reaction with the plasma environment and configured to expose the monitoring layer to the plasma environment upon sufficient exposure to the plasma environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bradley J. Howard, Eric Pape, Siwen Li
  • Publication number: 20090251700
    Abstract: An arrangement for in-situ optical interrogation of plasma emission to quantitatively measure normalized optical emission spectra in a plasma chamber is provided. The arrangement includes a flash lamp and a set of quartz windows. The arrangement also includes a plurality of collimated optical assemblies, which is optically coupled to the set of quartz windows. The arrangement further includes a plurality of fiber optic bundles, which comprises at least an illumination fiber optic bundle, a collection fiber optic bundle, and a reference fiber optic bundle. The arrangement more over includes a multi-channel spectrometer, which is configured with at least a signal channel and a reference channel. The signal channel is optically coupled to at least the flash lamp, the set of quartz windows, the set of collimated optical assemblies, the illuminated fiber optic bundle, and the collection fiber optic bundle to measure a first signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Eric Pape, Jean-Paul Booth
  • Publication number: 20090200269
    Abstract: A flexible polymer or elastomer coated RF return strap to be used in a plasma chamber to protect the RF strap from plasma generated radicals such as fluorine and oxygen radicals, and a method of processing a semiconductor substrate with reduced particle contamination in a plasma processing apparatus. The coated RF strap minimizes particle generation and exhibits lower erosion rates than an uncoated base component. Such a coated member having a flexible coating on a conductive flexible base component provides an RF ground return configured to allow movement of one or more electrodes in an adjustable gap capacitively coupled plasma reactor chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Bobby Kadkhodayan, Jon McChesney, Eric Pape, Rajinder Dhindsa
  • Publication number: 20090002836
    Abstract: A method for optical interrogation of plasma during plasma processing in a plasma processing chamber is provided. The method includes providing an optical viewport. The method also includes providing a collimator arrangement. The collimator arrangement is configured with a plurality of collimators, wherein a first collimator of the plurality of collimators is separated by a connecting region from a second collimator in the plurality of collimators. The method further includes collecting optical signals, through the collimator arrangement, from the plasma within the plasma processing chamber while a substrate is being processed, resulting in highly collimated optical signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: Vijayakumar C. Venugopal, Eric Pape