Patents by Inventor Ian J. Kenworthy

Ian J. Kenworthy 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: 10074521
    Abstract: An upper chamber section of a plasma reaction chamber includes a ceramic window with blind bores in an upper surface for receipt of a thermal couple and a resistance temperature detector, a top chamber interface which comprises an upper surface which vacuum seals against the bottom of the window and a gas injection system comprising 8 side injectors mounted in the sidewall of the top chamber interface and a gas delivery system comprising tubing which provides symmetric gas flow to the 8 injectors from a single gas feed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Arthur Brown, Jeffrey A. Bogart, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 9934979
    Abstract: A two piece ceramic showerhead includes upper and lower plates which deliver process gas to an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber. The upper plate overlies the lower plate and includes radially extending gas passages which extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the upper plate, axially extending gas passages in fluid communication with the radially extending gas passages and an annular recess forming a plenum between the upper and lower plates. The lower plate includes axially extending gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. The upper plate can include eight radially extending gas passages evenly spaced around the periphery of the upper plate and the lower plate can include inner and outer rows of gas holes. The two piece ceramic showerhead forms a dielectric window of the chamber through which radiofrequency energy generated by an antenna is coupled into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Kang, Alex Paterson, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Publication number: 20150318147
    Abstract: A two piece ceramic showerhead includes upper and lower plates which deliver process gas to an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber. The upper plate overlies the lower plate and includes radially extending gas passages which extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the upper plate, axially extending gas passages in fluid communication with the radially extending gas passages and an annular recess forming a plenum between the upper and lower plates. The lower plate includes axially extending gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. The upper plate can include eight radially extending gas passages evenly spaced around the periphery of the upper plate and the lower plate can include inner and outer rows of gas holes. The two piece ceramic showerhead forms a dielectric window of the chamber through which radiofrequency energy generated by an antenna is coupled into the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael KANG, Alex PATERSON, Ian J. KENWORTHY
  • Publication number: 20150279621
    Abstract: An upper chamber section of a plasma reaction chamber includes a ceramic window with blind bores in an upper surface for receipt of a thermal couple and a resistance temperature detector, a top chamber interface which comprises an upper surface which vacuum seals against the bottom of the window and a gas injection system comprising 8 side injectors mounted in the sidewall of the top chamber interface and a gas delivery system comprising tubing which provides symmetric gas flow to the 8 injectors from a single gas feed connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel Arthur Brown, Jeff A. Bogart, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 9099398
    Abstract: A two piece ceramic showerhead includes upper and lower plates which deliver process gas to an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber. The upper plate overlies the lower plate and includes radially extending gas passages which extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the upper plate, axially extending gas passages in fluid communication with the radially extending gas passages and an annular recess forming a plenum between the upper and lower plates. The lower plate includes axially extending gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. The two piece ceramic showerhead forms a dielectric window of the chamber through which radiofrequency energy generated by an antenna is coupled into the chamber. The gas delivery system is operable to supply an etching gas and a deposition gas into the processing chamber such that the etching gas in the plenum can be replaced with the deposition gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Kang, Alex Paterson, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 9076634
    Abstract: An upper chamber section of a plasma reaction chamber includes a ceramic window with blind bores in an upper surface for receipt of a thermal couple and a resistance temperature detector, a top chamber interface which comprises an upper surface which vacuum seals against the bottom of the window and a gas injection system comprising 8 side injectors mounted in the sidewall of the top chamber interface and a gas delivery system comprising tubing which provides symmetric gas flow to the 8 injectors from a single gas feed connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Arthur Brown, Jeff A. Bogart, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Publication number: 20140065827
    Abstract: A two piece ceramic showerhead includes upper and lower plates which deliver process gas to an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber. The upper plate overlies the lower plate and includes radially extending gas passages which extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the upper plate, axially extending gas passages in fluid communication with the radially extending gas passages and an annular recess forming a plenum between the upper and lower plates. The lower plate includes axially extending gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. The two piece ceramic showerhead forms a dielectric window of the chamber through which radiofrequency energy generated by an antenna is coupled into the chamber. The gas delivery system is operable to supply an etching gas and a deposition gas into the processing chamber such that the etching gas in the plenum can be replaced with the deposition gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kang, Alex Paterson, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 8562785
    Abstract: A two piece ceramic showerhead includes upper and lower plates which deliver process gas to an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber. The upper plate overlies the lower plate and includes radially extending gas passages which extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the upper plate, axially extending gas passages in fluid communication with the radially extending gas passages and an annular recess forming a plenum between the upper and lower plates. The lower plate includes axially extending gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. The upper plate can include eight radially extending gas passages evenly spaced around the periphery of the upper plate and the lower plate can include inner and outer rows of gas holes. The two piece ceramic showerhead forms a dielectric window of the chamber through which radiofrequency energy generated by an antenna is coupled into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kang, Alex Paterson, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Publication number: 20130264309
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate using plasma are disclosed. The apparatus includes a plasma processing system having a process gas supply arrangement for supplying a process gas into an interior region of said chamber and a plasma source configured for generating said plasma at least from said process gas. The apparatus also includes an acoustic energy generator arrangement configured to apply acoustic energy to at least one of a chamber component and said substrate, wherein said acoustic energy generator generates said acoustic energy in the range of 10 Hz to 1 MHz using at least one of a piezoelectric transducing, mechanical coupling vibration, wafer backside gas pulsing, pulsing of said process gas, pressure wave pulsing, and electromagnetic coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Ian J. Kenworthy, Daniel A. Brown, Cliff E. La Croix, Josh A. Cormier
  • Publication number: 20120309204
    Abstract: A two piece ceramic showerhead includes upper and lower plates which deliver process gas to an inductively coupled plasma processing chamber. The upper plate overlies the lower plate and includes radially extending gas passages which extend inwardly from an outer periphery of the upper plate, axially extending gas passages in fluid communication with the radially extending gas passages and an annular recess forming a plenum between the upper and lower plates. The lower plate includes axially extending gas holes in fluid communication with the plenum. The upper plate can include eight radially extending gas passages evenly spaced around the periphery of the upper plate and the lower plate can include inner and outer rows of gas holes. The two piece ceramic showerhead forms a dielectric window of the chamber through which radiofrequency energy generated by an antenna is coupled into the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Kang, Alex Paterson, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Patent number: 8282987
    Abstract: Aluminum-plated components of semiconductor material processing apparatuses are disclosed. The components include a substrate and an optional intermediate layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate. The intermediate layer includes at least one surface. An aluminum plating is formed on the substrate, or on the optional intermediate layer. The surface on which the aluminum plating is formed is electrically-conductive. An anodized layer can optionally be formed on the aluminum plating. The aluminum plating or optional the anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more aluminum-plated components, methods of processing substrates, and methods of making the aluminum-plated components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ian J. Kenworthy, Kelly W. Fong, Leonard J. Sharpless
  • Publication number: 20120132532
    Abstract: Aluminum-plated components of semiconductor material processing apparatuses are disclosed. The components include a substrate and an optional intermediate layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate. The intermediate layer includes at least one surface. An aluminum plating is formed on the substrate, or on the optional intermediate layer. The surface on which the aluminum plating is formed is electrically-conductive. An anodized layer can optionally be formed on the aluminum plating. The aluminum plating or optional the anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more aluminum-plated components, methods of processing substrates, and methods of making the aluminum-plated components are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ian J. Kenworthy, Kelly W. Fong, Leonard J. Sharpless
  • Patent number: 8128750
    Abstract: Aluminum-plated components of semiconductor material processing apparatuses are disclosed. The components include a substrate and an optional intermediate layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate. The intermediate layer includes at least one surface. An aluminum plating is formed on the substrate, or on the optional intermediate layer. The surface on which the aluminum plating is formed is electrically-conductive. An anodized layer can optionally be formed on the aluminum plating. The aluminum plating or optional the anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more aluminum-plated components, methods of processing substrates, and methods of making the aluminum-plated components are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ian J. Kenworthy, Kelly W. Fong, Leonard J. Sharpless
  • Publication number: 20110056626
    Abstract: An upper chamber section of a plasma reaction chamber includes a ceramic window with blind bores in an upper surface for receipt of a thermal couple and a resistance temperature detector, a top chamber interface which comprises an upper surface which vacuum seals against the bottom of the window and a gas injection system comprising 8 side injectors mounted in the sidewall of the top chamber interface and a gas delivery system comprising tubing which provides symmetric gas flow to the 8 injectors from a single gas feed connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Arthur Brown, Jeff A. Bogart, Ian J. Kenworthy
  • Publication number: 20080241517
    Abstract: Aluminum-plated components of semiconductor material processing apparatuses are disclosed. The components include a substrate and an optional intermediate layer formed on at least one surface of the substrate. The intermediate layer includes at least one surface. An aluminum plating is formed on the substrate, or on the optional intermediate layer. The surface on which the aluminum plating is formed is electrically-conductive. An anodized layer can optionally be formed on the aluminum plating. The aluminum plating or optional the anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more aluminum-plated components, methods of processing substrates, and methods of making the aluminum-plated components are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Ian J. Kenworthy, Kelly W. Fong, Leonard J. Sharpless