Patents by Inventor Gregory L. Kirk

Gregory L. Kirk 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: 10736182
    Abstract: Substrate temperature control apparatus and electronic device manufacturing systems provide pixelated light-based heating to a substrate in a process chamber. A substrate holder in the process chamber may include a baseplate. The baseplate has a top surface that may have a plurality of cavities and a plurality of grooves connected to the cavities. Optical fibers may be received in the grooves such that each cavity has a respective optical fiber terminating therein to transfer light thereto. Some or all of the cavities may have an epoxy optical diffuser disposed therein to diffuse light provided by the optical fiber. A ceramic plate upon which a substrate may be placed may be bonded to the baseplate. A thermal spreader plate may optionally be provided between the baseplate and the ceramic plate. Methods of controlling temperature across a substrate holder in an electronic device manufacturing system are also provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Busche, Wendell Boyd, Jr., Todd J. Egan, Gregory L. Kirk, Vijay D. Parkhe, Michael R. Rice, Leon Volfovski
  • Publication number: 20160007412
    Abstract: Substrate temperature control apparatus and electronic device manufacturing systems provide pixelated light-based heating to a substrate in a process chamber. A substrate holder in the process chamber may include a baseplate. The baseplate has a top surface that may have a plurality of cavities and a plurality of grooves connected to the cavities. Optical fibers may be received in the grooves such that each cavity has a respective optical fiber terminating therein to transfer light thereto. Some or all of the cavities may have an epoxy optical diffuser disposed therein to diffuse light provided by the optical fiber. A ceramic plate upon which a substrate may be placed may be bonded to the baseplate. A thermal spreader plate may optionally be provided between the baseplate and the ceramic plate. Methods of controlling temperature across a substrate holder in an electronic device manufacturing system are also provided, as are other aspects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Matthew Busche, Wendell Boyd, JR., Todd J. Egan, Gregory L. Kirk, Vijay D. Parkhe, Michael R. Rice, Leon Volfovski
  • Patent number: 9052494
    Abstract: An optical system may include an objective having at least four mirrors including an outermost mirror with aspect ratio <20:1 and focusing optics including a refractive optical element. The objective provides imaging at numerical aperture >0.7, central obscuration <35% in pupil. An objective may have two or more mirrors, one with a refractive module that seals off an outermost mirror's central opening. A broad band imaging system may include one objective and two or more imaging paths that provide imaging at numerical aperture >0.7 and field of view >0.8 mm. An optical imaging system may comprise an objective and two or more imaging paths. The imaging paths may provide two or more simultaneous broadband images of a sample in two or more modes. The modes may have different illumination and/or collection pupil apertures or different pixel sizes at the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Shiow-Hwei Hwang, Gregory L. Kirk, Hwan J. Jeong, David Shafer, Russel Hudyma
  • Patent number: 8705027
    Abstract: A method for wafer defect inspection may include, but is not limited to: providing an inspection target; applying at least one defect inspection enhancement to the inspection target; illuminating the inspection target including the at least one inspection enhancement to generate one or more inspection signals associated with one or more features of the inspection target; detecting the inspection signals; and generating one or more inspection parameters from the inspection signals. An inspection target may include, but is not limited to: at least one inspection layer; and at least one inspection enhancement layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Steven R. Lange, Stephane Durant, Gregory L. Kirk, Robert M. Danen, Prashant Aji
  • Publication number: 20140065637
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for determining information for cells are provided. The systems, methods, and devices are configured such that information for more than 100,000 cells can be determined in a single run. The devices are configured to immobilize the cells. The devices also include features that can be used by the systems and methods for determining and tracking the positions of each of the cells in the device on a cell-by-cell basis. The systems and methods are configured for substantially high resolution of the cells while the cells are immobilized in the device. In addition, environmental control subsystems are provided that can control an environment of the cells while the device is positioned in the system or the method is being performed without altering positions of the cells within the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Kirk, Johan Christiaanse
  • Publication number: 20130155399
    Abstract: An optical system may include an objective having at least four mirrors including an outermost mirror with aspect ratio <20:1 and focusing optics including a refractive optical element. The objective provides imaging at numerical aperture >0.7, central obscuration <35% in pupil. An objective may have two or more mirrors, one with a refractive module that seals off an outermost mirror's central opening. A broad band imaging system may include one objective and two or more imaging paths that provide imaging at numerical aperture >0.7 and field of view >0.8 mm. An optical imaging system may comprise an objective and two or more imaging paths. The imaging paths may provide two or more simultaneous broadband images of a sample in two or more modes. The modes may have different illumination and/or collection pupil apertures or different pixel sizes at the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Shiow-Hwei Hwang, Gregory L. Kirk, Hwan J. Jeong, David Shafer, Russell Hudyma
  • Patent number: 8178860
    Abstract: An inspection system for creating images of a substrate. A light source directs an incident light onto the substrate, and a light source timing control controls a pulse timing of the incident light. A stage holds the substrate and moves the substrate under the incident light, so that the substrate reflects the incident light as a reflected light. A stage position sensor reports a position of the stage, and a stage position control controls the position of the stage. A time domain integration sensor receives the reflected light, and a time domain integration sensor timing control controls a line shift of the time domain integration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory L. Kirk, Matthew W. Derstine, Shiow-Hwei Hwang, Isabella T. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20120113416
    Abstract: A method for wafer defect inspection may include, but is not limited to: providing an inspection target; applying at least one defect inspection enhancement to the inspection target; illuminating the inspection target including the at least one inspection enhancement to generate one or more inspection signals associated with one or more features of the inspection target; detecting the inspection signals; and generating one or more inspection parameters from the inspection signals. An inspection target may include, but is not limited to: at least one inspection layer; and at least one inspection enhancement layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven R. Lange, Stephane Durant, Gregory L. Kirk, Robert M. Danen, Prashant Aji
  • Publication number: 20110242528
    Abstract: An optical system may include an objective having at least four mirrors including an outermost mirror with aspect ratio <20:1 and focusing optics including a refractive optical element. The objective provides imaging at numerical aperture >0.7, central obscuration <35% in pupil. An objective may have two or more mirrors, one with a refractive module that seals off an outermost mirror's central opening. A broad band imaging system may include one objective and two or more imaging paths that provide imaging at numerical aperture >0.7 and field of view >0.8 mm. An optical imaging system may comprise an objective and two or more imaging paths. The imaging paths may provide two or more simultaneous broadband images of a sample in two or more modes. The modes may have different illumination and/or collection pupil apertures or different pixel sizes at the sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Shiow-Hwei Hwang, Gregory L. Kirk, Hwan J. Jeong, David Shafer, Russell Hudyma
  • Publication number: 20110043797
    Abstract: An inspection system for creating images of a substrate. A light source directs an incident light onto the substrate, and a light source timing control controls a pulse timing of the incident light. A stage holds the substrate and moves the substrate under the incident light, so that the substrate reflects the incident light as a reflected light. A stage position sensor reports a position of the stage, and a stage position control controls the position of the stage. A time domain integration sensor receives the reflected light, and a time domain integration sensor timing control controls a line shift of the time domain integration sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: KLA-TENCOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gregory L. Kirk, Matthew W. Derstine, Shiow-Hwei Hwang, Isabella T. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20090305437
    Abstract: A method of forming an integrated circuit layer material is described, comprising depositing a layer of templates on a substrate, said template including a first binding site having an affinity for the substrate, a second binding site having an affinity for a target integrated circuit material and a protecting material coupled to the second binding site via a labile linkage to prevent the binding site from binding to the target integrated circuit material; exposing the template to an external stimulus to degrade the labile linkage; removing the protecting material; and binding the integrated circuit material to the second binding site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: CAMBRIOS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Pierre-Marc Allemand, Manfred Heidecker, Gregory L. Kirk, Xina Quan, Cheng-I Wang
  • Patent number: 7419823
    Abstract: A device for monitoring leukocyte migration is provided. The invention also provides a method of using the device to monitor leukocyte migration in the presence of physiological shear flow and therefore simulate physiological conditions of a blood vessel in vivo. The invention further provides a method of using the device to high-throughput screen a plurality of test agents. The present invention further provides a flexible assay system and numerous assays that can be used to test biological interactions and systems. Laminar flow gradients are employed that mimic gradient situations present in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Kirk, Emanuele Ostuni, Enoch Kim, Olivier Schueller, Paul Sweetnam
  • Patent number: 7374906
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for monitoring chemotaxis or chemoinvasion. The present invention further provides a flexible assay system and numerous assays that can be used to test biological interactions and systems. Laminar flow gradients are employed that mimic gradient situations present in vivo.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Kirk, Emanuele Ostuni, Enoch Kim, Olivier Schueller, Paul Sweetnam
  • Patent number: 7371563
    Abstract: Devices and methods for performing assays on materials, particularly biological materials, are provided. The devices and methods make use of self-sealing members, which can be applied to a flat surface to form wells to facilitate immobilization of materials on the flat surface, then removed to yield a flat surface that facilitates the performance of processes on and/or detection of the immobilized material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: David Duffy, Gregory L. Kirk, Stewart Campbell, Olivier Schueller, Melina Amber Agosto, Enoch Kim
  • Patent number: 7364899
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a device for monitoring haptotaxis including a housing defining a chamber. The chamber comprises: a first well region including at least one first well, the first well configured to receive a test agent therein and further including biomolecules immobilized therein; a second well region including at least one second well, the second well region configured to receive a sample comprising cells therein and further being horizontally offset with respect to the first well region in a test orientation of the device; and a channel region including at a least one channel connecting the first well region and the second well region with one another, the channel region further including biomolecules immobilized therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Surface Logix Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Kirk, Matthew Brown, Emanuele Ostuni, Enoch Kim, Bernardo D. Aumond, Olivier Schueller, Paul Sweetnam, Brian Benoit
  • Patent number: 7351575
    Abstract: Devices and methods for performing assays on materials, particularly biological materials, are provided. The devices and methods make use of self-sealing members, which can be applied to a flat surface to form wells to facilitate immobilization of materials on the flat surface, then removed to yield a flat surface that facilitates the performance of processes on and/or detection of the immobilized material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: David Duffy, Gregory L. Kirk, Stewart Campbell, Olivier Schueller, Melina Agosto
  • Patent number: 7211209
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices, devices for arraying biomolecules, including cells, methods for arraying biomolecules, assays for monitoring cellular movement, and systems for monitoring cellular movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: Enoch Kim, Gregory L. Kirk, Olivier Schueller, Emanuele Ostuni
  • Patent number: 7123764
    Abstract: An image processing method for use in analyzing image data of a cellular migration assay. The method includes defining a major axis within the image data that is perpendicular to an orientation of channels in the image data, determining an aggregate light intensity within the image data along the major axis, and identifying locations of channels within the image data from the projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Surface Logix Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory L. Kirk, Matthew Brown, Emanuele Ostuni, Enoch Kim, Bernardo D. Aumond, Olivier Schueller, Paul Sweetnam, Brian Benoit
  • Patent number: 7033819
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices, devices for arraying biomolecules, including cells, methods for arraying biomolecules, assays for monitoring cellular movement, and systems for monitoring cellular movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: Enoch Kim, Gregory L. Kirk, Olivier Schueller, Emanuele Ostuni
  • Patent number: 7033821
    Abstract: The invention relates to devices, devices for arraying biomolecules, including cells, methods for arraying biomolecules, assays for monitoring cellular movement, and systems for monitoring cellular movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Surface Logix, Inc.
    Inventors: Enoch Kim, Gregory L. Kirk, Olivier Schueller, Emanuele Ostuni