Patents by Inventor Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER

Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER 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: 20230406663
    Abstract: A roll exchange chamber for exchanging a substrate roll is described. The roll exchange chamber includes a rotatable base construction being rotatable around a central axis. The base construction comprises a first roll holder for holding a first substrate roll, a second roll holder for holding a second substrate roll, and a wall for providing a first compartment and a second compartment in the roll exchange chamber. The wall is arranged between the first roll holder and the second roll holder. Further, a roll-to-roll processing system with a roll exchange chamber as well as a method of continuously providing a flexible substrate in a roll-to-roll processing system are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Thomas LEIPNITZ
  • Patent number: 11795541
    Abstract: A method (100) of cooling a deposition source (200) is described. The method includes stopping (110) depositing material from the deposition source, the deposition source being arranged in a deposition chamber (250), and introducing (120) a cooling gas into the deposition chamber (250), the cooling gas comprising a thermal conductivity ? of ??0.05 [W/(m*K)]. Further, a chamber for cooling a deposition source is described. The chamber includes a deposition source being arranged in the chamber. Further, the chamber includes a cooling gas supply system configured for providing a cooling gas into the chamber, the cooling gas comprising a thermal conductivity ? of ??0.05 [W/(m*K)].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Claire Armstrong, Frank Schnappenberger, Thomas Deppisch
  • Publication number: 20230113276
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for processing lithium batteries with a laser source having a wide process window, high efficiency, and low cost are provided. The laser source is adapted to achieve high average power and a high frequency of picosecond pulses. The laser source can produce a line-shaped beam either in a fixed position or in scanning mode. The system can be operated in a dry room or vacuum environment. The system can include a debris removal mechanism, for example, inert gas flow, to the processing site to remove debris produced during the patterning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Wei-Sheng LEI, Girish Kumar GOPALAKRISHNAN NAIR, Kent Qiujing ZHAO, Daniel STOCK, Tobias STOLLEY, Thomas DEPPISCH, Jean DELMAS, Kenneth S. LEDFORD, Subramanya P. HERLE, Kiran VACHHANI, Mahendran CHIDAMBARAM, Roland TRASSL, Neil MORRISON, Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Kevin Laughton CUNNINGHAM, Stefan BANGERT, James CUSHING, Visweswaren SIVARAMAKRISHNAN
  • Publication number: 20220356027
    Abstract: A roller for transporting a flexible substrate is described. The roller includes a main body having a plurality of gas supply slits provided in an outer surface of the main body. The plurality of gas supply slits extends in a direction of a central rotation axis of the roller. Further, the roller includes a sleeve provided circumferentially around and in contact with the main body. The sleeve has a plurality of gas outlets being provided above the plurality of gas supply slits. Further, the sleeve includes a metal layer embedded within isolating material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas DEPPISCH, Stefan BANGERT, Claire ARMSTRONG, Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER
  • Patent number: 10818475
    Abstract: An AC power connector for connecting an AC power supply with a device is provided. The AC power connector includes at least one first element connectable with the AC power supply and at least one second element connectable with the device, the first element and the second elements being arranged at a first distance with respect to each other for defining a capacitance, wherein the at least one first element and the at least one second element are rotatable with respect to each other, wherein the first element and the second element are configured for a transfer of an AC power between the at least one first element and the at least one second element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Frank Schnappenberger, Anke Hellmich, Stefan Keller, Marcus Bender
  • Publication number: 20200332413
    Abstract: A method (100) of cooling a deposition source (200) is described. The method includes stopping (110) depositing material from the deposition source, the deposition source being arranged in a deposition chamber (250), and introducing (120) a cooling gas into the deposition chamber (250), the cooling gas comprising a thermal conductivity ? of ??0.05 [W/(m*K)]. Further, a chamber for cooling a deposition source is described. The chamber includes a deposition source being arranged in the chamber. Further, the chamber includes a cooling gas supply system configured for providing a cooling gas into the chamber, the cooling gas comprising a thermal conductivity ? of ??0.05 [W/(m*K)].
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Claire ARMSTRONG, Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Thomas DEPPISCH
  • Patent number: 10174415
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas supply to a process chamber is provided. The method includes: measuring a gas parameter by each of two or more sensors provided in the process chamber; determining a combined gas parameter from the measured gas parameters; and controlling the gas supply to the process chamber based on the determined combined gas parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Schnappenberger, Anke Hellmich, Thomas Koch, Thomas Deppisch
  • Publication number: 20180135160
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas supply to a process chamber is provided. The method includes: measuring a gas parameter by each of two or more sensors provided in the process chamber; determining a combined gas parameter from the measured gas parameters; and controlling the gas supply to the process chamber based on the determined combined gas parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Anke HELLMICH, Thomas KOCH, Thomas DEPPISCH
  • Publication number: 20160336151
    Abstract: An AC power connector for connecting an AC power supply with a device is provided. The AC power connector includes at least one first element connectable with the AC power supply and at least one second element connectable with the device, the first element and the second elements being arranged at a first distance with respect to each other for defining a capacitance, wherein the at least one first element and the at least one second element are rotatable with respect to each other, wherein the first element and the second element are configured for a transfer of an AC power between the at least one first element and the at least one second element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: November 17, 2016
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Anke HELLMICH, Stefan KELLER, Marcus BENDER
  • Publication number: 20160244870
    Abstract: A method for controlling a gas supply to a process chamber is provided. The method includes: measuring a gas parameter by each of two or more sensors provided in the process chamber; determining a combined gas parameter from the measured gas parameters; and controlling the gas supply to the process chamber based on the determined combined gas parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicants: Applied Materials, Inc., Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Anke HELLMICH, Thomas KOCH, Thomas DEPPISCH
  • Publication number: 20160189939
    Abstract: A deposition apparatus and a method for depositing deposition material on a web is described. The deposition apparatus includes a first sputter device support defining a first axis for a first rotatable sputter device, a second sputter device support defining a second axis for a second rotatable sputter device, and a coating window. The first sputter device support and the second sputter device support are adapted for supporting the first rotatable sputter device and the second rotatable sputter device to provide at least a component of the deposition material to be deposited on the web over a coating drum. Further, the distance between the first axis and the second axis is smaller than 200 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas DEPPISCH, Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Andreas LOPP, Annemarie FLOCK, Götz GÖRISCH
  • Patent number: 8623184
    Abstract: It is provided a device for supporting a rotatable target of a deposition apparatus for sputtering material onto a substrate, wherein the device includes a drive unit for rotating the rotatable target; a ring-shaped part connected to the drive unit for attaching the drive unit to the rotatable target; and, a shield for covering the ring-shaped part. The shield is adapted for rotating together with the ring-shaped part and includes a plurality of parts assembled together. Furthermore, a sputtering apparatus and a method for supporting a rotatable target are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Schnappenberger, Jürgen Multerer
  • Publication number: 20120193218
    Abstract: It is provided a device for supporting a rotatable target of a deposition apparatus for sputtering material onto a substrate, wherein the device includes a drive unit for rotating the rotatable target; a ring-shaped part connected to the drive unit for attaching the drive unit to the rotatable target; and, a shield for covering the ring-shaped part. The shield is adapted for rotating together with the ring-shaped part and includes a plurality of parts assembled together. Furthermore, a sputtering apparatus and a method for supporting a rotatable target are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Jürgen MULTERER
  • Publication number: 20110240465
    Abstract: An end-block and a deposition apparatus including an end-block are provided. The end-block includes a base body which is adapted to be connected to the deposition apparatus in a non-rotational manner. The end-block further includes a rotary bearing arranged around the base body and a rotor which is arranged around the rotary bearing and adapted to receive a rotatable target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER
  • Publication number: 20110241272
    Abstract: A device for supporting a rotatable target and deposition apparatus having such a device are provided. The device includes a main body, a first fluid conduit in the main body for receiving a fluid from the rotatable target, and a second fluid conduit in the main body for providing the fluid to the rotatable target. The projections of the first fluid conduit and the second fluid conduit onto a projection plane that extends in the direction of the rotational axis of the rotatable target overlap each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER
  • Publication number: 20110192716
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing an indium-tin-oxide layer, comprising: providing a substrate to be coated in a sputtering chamber; providing a rotatable non-bonded target around a backing tube for coating the substrate in the sputtering chamber; and sputtering the material from the target in an atmosphere containing an O2/H2 mixture. Further the present disclosure relates to a sputtering system comprising a sputtering chamber having at least one gas inlet and being adapted for at least one backing tube for a non-bonded rotatable target, a control device adapted to control the flow through the gas inlet, wherein the control device is adapted to control the at least one gas inlet such that a coating on a substrate using a sputtering process is performed in an atmosphere containing an O2 /H2 mixture in the sputtering chamber for forming an indium-tin-oxide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Anke HELLMICH, Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Joerg KREMPEL-HESSE
  • Publication number: 20110005923
    Abstract: The application concerns a target backing tube for a rotatable cylindrical target assembly comprising: a tube for at least one target element to be disposed there around, wherein the tube has an exterior surface adapted to face the at least one target element, wherein a portion of the exterior surface of the tube has a mean emissivity of 0.7 to 1, wherein the portion is at least 50% of the exterior surface of the tube. Further, the application concerns a cooling shield for a sputtering system comprising a rotatable target, the cooling shield has an interior surface adapted to face a target element of a sputtering system and an exterior surface; wherein a portion of the interior surface of the cooling shield has a mean emissivity of 0.7 to 1, wherein the portion is at least 50% of the interior surface of the cooling shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Roland WEBER, Joerg KREMPEL-HESSE, Anke HELLMICH
  • Publication number: 20110005924
    Abstract: A target backing tube is described. The target backing tube is for a rotatable target and includes a tube adapted for one or more non-bonded target cylinders to be disposed around the tube, the tube having an exterior surface adapted to face the at least one target cylinder and at least three or more protrusion receiving positions; and protrusions mounted on the exterior surface of the tube at each of the protrusion receiving positions for centering the target cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Roland WEBER, Joerg KREMPEL-HESSE, Anke HELLMICH
  • Publication number: 20110005925
    Abstract: The present application concerns a target backing tube for a rotatable cylindrical target assembly comprising: a tube for at least one target element to be disposed there around, wherein the tube has an exterior surface adapted to be directed to the at least one target element; and a thermal reflection cover covering a portion of at least 20% of the exterior surface of the tube. Further, the present application concerns a rotatable cylindrical target assembly comprising: said target backing tube and at least one target element disposed around the target backing tube, wherein the thermal reflection cover disposed between the target backing tube and the at least one target element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Frank SCHNAPPENBERGER, Roland WEBER, Joerg KREMPEL-HESSE, Anke HELLMICH