Patents by Inventor Henry Ho

Henry Ho 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: 7223323
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an electrochemical plating system. The plating system includes a substrate loading station positioned in communication with a mainframe processing platform, at least one substrate plating cell positioned on the mainframe, at least one substrate bevel cleaning cell positioned on the mainframe, and a stacked substrate annealing station positioned in communication with at least one of the mainframe and the loading station, each chamber in the stacked substrate annealing station having a heating plate, a cooling plate, and a substrate transfer robot therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Ming Xi, Russell C. Ellwanger, Eric B. Britcher, Bernardo Donoso, Lily L. Pang, Svetlana Sherman, Henry Ho, Anh N. Nguyen, Alexander N. Lerner, Allen L. D'Ambra, Arulkumar Shanmugasundram, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Yevgeniy Rabinovich, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Yeuk-Fai Edwin Mok, Son T. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20040206375
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning the bevel of a semiconductor substrate. The apparatus generally includes a cell body having upstanding walls and a fluid drain basin, a rotatable vacuum chuck positioned centrally positioned in the fluid drain basin, and at least 3 substrate centering members positioned at equal radial increments around the rotatable vacuum chuck. The substrate centering members include a vertically oriented shaft having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough, a cap member positioned over an upper terminating end of the shaft, a raised central portion formed onto the cap member, the raised central portion having a maximum thickness at a location the coincides with the longitudinal axis, and a substrate centering post positioned on the cap member radially outward of the raised central portion, an upper terminating end of the substrate centering post extending from the cap member to a distance that exceeds the maximum thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Ho, Lily L. Pang, Anh N. Nguyen, Alexander N. Lerner
  • Patent number: 6802906
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a pumping plate having a skirt, where the skirt contains a number of holes and a wafer access slot, and where the number of holes are sized and positioned to provide uniform heating of a susceptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Jin, Shulin Wang, Lee Luo, Henry Ho, Steven A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20040016637
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an electrochemical plating system. The plating system includes a substrate loading station positioned in communication with a mainframe processing platform, at least one substrate plating cell positioned on the mainframe, at least one substrate bevel cleaning cell positioned on the mainframe, and a stacked substrate annealing station positioned in communication with at least one of the mainframe and the loading station, each chamber in the stacked substrate annealing station having a heating plate, a cooling plate, and a substrate transfer robot therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Ming Xi, Russell C. Ellwanger, Eric B. Britcher, Bernardo Donoso, Lily L. Pang, Svetlana Sherman, Henry Ho, Anh N. Nguyen, Alexander N. Lerner, Allen L. D'Ambra, Arulkumar Shanmugasundram, Tetsuya Ishikawa, Yevgeniy Rabinovich, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Yeuk-Fai Edwin Mok, Son T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6652655
    Abstract: An apparatus for wafer processing that includes a wafer reaction chamber containing a heater within, the heater including an interior volume containing at least one heating element, a fluid inlet port, and a fluid vent port positioned to vent the fluid outside the wafer reaction chamber. Additionally, the interior volume has a seal that isolates it from the wafer reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Henry Ho
  • Patent number: 6646235
    Abstract: A heating apparatus including a stage comprising a surface having an area to support a wafer and a body, a shaft coupled to the stage, and a first and a second heating element. The first heating element is disposed within a first plane of the body of the stage. The second heating element is disposed within a second plane of the body of the stage at a greater distance from the surface of the stage than the first heating element. A reactor comprising a chamber, a resistive heater, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor. A resistive heating system for a chemical vapor deposition apparatus comprising a resistive heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Aihua Chen, Henry Ho, Michael X. Yang, Bruce W. Peuse, Karl Littau, Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 6645884
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses of forming a silicon nitride layer on a semiconductor wafer. A semiconductor wafer is located on a susceptor within a semiconductor processing chamber. A carrier gas, a nitrogen source gas, and a silicon source gas are introduced into the semiconductor processing chamber and a semiconductor wafer is exposed to the mixture of gases at a pressure in the chamber in the range of approximately 100 to 500 Torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Chien-Teh Kao, Karl Littau, Steven A. Chen, Henry Ho, Ying Yu
  • Patent number: 6617553
    Abstract: A heating apparatus including a stage comprising a surface having an area to support a wafer and a body, a shaft coupled to the stage, and a first and a second heating element. The first heating element is disposed within a first plane of the body of the stage. The second heating element is disposed within a second plane of the body of the stage at a greater distance from the surface of the stage than the first heating element, and the second heating element is offset from the first heating element in a plane substantially parallel to at least one of the first plane and the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Ho, Anqing Cui, Xiaoxiong Yuan
  • Patent number: 6586343
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for directing a process gas through a processing apparatus, such as a vapor deposition chamber. The apparatus comprises a pumping plate for a processing chamber having an annular body member wherein said body member has a first portion and a second defining a circumferential edge and a central opening. The first portion comprises a sidewall of the circumferential edge having a plurality of circumferentially spaced through holes and the second portion has comprises a lateral portion that protrudes from the circumferential edge, such that, in a processing chamber, the first portion defines a first gas flow region comprising the central opening and a second gas flow region comprising the lateral portion of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Ho, Ying Yu, Steven A. Chen
  • Patent number: 6582522
    Abstract: Provided herein is an emissivity-change-free pumping plate kit used in a single wafer chamber. This kit comprises a top open pumping plate, and optionally a skirt and/or a second stage choking plate. The skirt may be installed around the wafer heater, underneath the wafer heater, or along the chamber body inside the chamber. The choking plate is installed downstream of the top open pumping plate along the purge gas flow. Also provided is a method of preventing emissivity change and further providing optimal film thickness uniformity during wafer processing by utilizing such kit in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Luo, Henry Ho, Shulin Wang, Binh Hoa Tran, Alexander Tam, Errol A. C. Sanchez, Xianzhi Tao, Steven A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20030062359
    Abstract: A heating apparatus including a stage comprising a surface having an area to support a wafer and a body, a shaft coupled to the stage, and a first and a second heating element. The first heating element is disposed within a first plane of the body of the stage. The second heating element is disposed within a second plane of the body of the stage at a greater distance from the surface of the stage than the first heating element, and the second heating element is offset from the first heating element in a plane substantially parallel to at least one of the first plane and the second plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventors: Henry Ho, Anqing Cui, Xiaoxiong Yuan
  • Patent number: 6530992
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of forming a film on a substrate including introducing a pretreatment material into a processing chamber sufficient to form a film as a portion of an inner surface of the processing chamber to inhibit outgassing from that portion of the chamber, introducing a substrate into the chamber, and forming a film on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Henry Ho, Steven A. Chen
  • Patent number: 6500266
    Abstract: An apparatus of a reactor or processing chamber comprising a chamber having a resistive heater disposed within a volume of the chamber, including a stage having a surface area to support a substrate such as a wafer and a body including at least one heating element, a shaft coupled to the body, a plurality of temperature sensors coupled to the chamber, each configured to measure a temperature at separate points associated with the surface area of the stage, and a motor coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the resistive heater about an axis through the shaft. In this manner, the temperature sensors may measure a temperature at separate points of the surface area of the stage. A method of rotating a shaft and measuring a plurality of temperatures over the surface area of the stage or over a wafer seated on the stage with the plurality of temperature sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Ho, Alexander M. Rubinchik, Aihua Chen, Abril C. Cabreros, Steven T. Li, Mark Yam, Bruce W. Peuse
  • Publication number: 20020137312
    Abstract: Provided herein is an emissivity-change-free pumping plate kit used in a single wafer chamber. This kit comprises a top open pumping plate, and optionally a skirt and/or a second stage choking plate. The skirt may be installed around the wafer heater, underneath the wafer heater, or along the chamber body inside the chamber. The choking plate is installed downstream of the top open pumping plate along the purge gas flow. Also provided is a method of preventing emissivity change and further providing optimal film thickness uniformity during wafer processing by utilizing such kit in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Luo, Henry Ho, Shulin Wang, Binh Hoa Tran, Alexander Tam, Errol A.C. Sanchez, Xianzhi Tao, Steven A. Chen
  • Publication number: 20020125239
    Abstract: A heating apparatus including a stage comprising a surface having an area to support a wafer and a body, a shaft coupled to the stage, and a first and a second heating element. The first heating element is disposed within a first plane of the body of the stage. The second heating element is disposed within a second plane of the body of the stage at a greater distance from the surface of the stage than the first heating element. A reactor comprising a chamber, a resistive heater, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor. A resistive heating system for a chemical vapor deposition apparatus comprising a resistive heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Steven Aihua Chen, Henry Ho, Michael X. Yang, Bruce W. Peuse, Karl Littau, Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20020127508
    Abstract: An apparatus that includes a pumping plate having a skirt, where the skirt contains a number of holes and a wafer access slot, and where the number of holes are sized and positioned to provide uniform heating of a susceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Jin, Shulin Wang, Lee Luo, Henry Ho, Steven A. Chen
  • Patent number: 6423949
    Abstract: A heating apparatus including a stage comprising a surface having an area to support a wafer and a body, a shaft coupled to the stage, and a first and a second heating element. The first heating element is disposed within a first plane of the body of the stage. The second heating element is disposed within a second plane of the body of the stage at a greater distance from the surface of the stage than the first heating element. A reactor comprising a chamber, a resistive heater, a first temperature sensor, and a second temperature sensor. A resistive heating system for a chemical vapor deposition apparatus comprising a resistive heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Aihua Chen, Henry Ho, Michael X. Yang, Bruce W. Peuse, Karl Littau, Yu Chang
  • Publication number: 20020045362
    Abstract: The invention provides methods and apparatuses of forming a silicon nitride layer on a semiconductor wafer is located on a susceptor within a semiconductor processing chamber. A carrier gas, a nitrogen source gas, and a silicon source gas are introduced into the semiconductor processing chamber and a semiconductor wafer is exposed to the mixture of gases at a pressure in the chamber in the range of approximately 100 on to 500 Torr.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: Michael X. Yang, Chien-Teh Kao, Karl Littau, Steven A. Chen, Henry Ho, Ying Yu
  • Patent number: 6156079
    Abstract: A semiconductor processing system includes a semiconductor processing chamber constructed of a main body, a window support member, and a window. The window support member is located over an opening into the main body. The window is located over the window support component. At least one radiation passage is formed in the window support component. The radiation passage has a first end which is open to the internal dimensions of the main body and a second end, opposing the first end, which terminates against the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Inventors: Henry Ho, Yu Chang, Kuo-Chun Wu, Steven A. Chen
  • Patent number: 6143084
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a semiconductor processing chamber, a plasma generator, and a pipe connecting a semiconductor processing chamber and the plasma generator. The plasma generator includes a generation chamber, a radio frequency generator which generates an ion plasma within the generation chamber, and a magnetic device which confines the plasma primarily within a center region of the generation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven T. Li, Andrew J. Ruspini, Henry Ho, Yu Chang, Aihua Chen, Binh Bui