Patents by Inventor J. Kelly Truman

J. Kelly Truman 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: 20130206936
    Abstract: A support system for a solar panel comprises a plurality of legs configured to receive multiple solar panels. The legs each comprise a base, a plurality of shafts, and a support precipice. The support precipice is divided into two sides by a t-bar. The first side comprises a guiding wing to effectuate modular assembly of the support system. The second side comprises a beveled edge to effectuate secure coupling of a solar panel. The system is able to be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools or implements. The system is also movable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Benyamin Buller, Chris Gronet, J. Kelly Truman, Thomas Brezoczky
  • Patent number: 7836901
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing individual wafers comprising; a means for holding the wafer; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the wafer; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Alexander Ko, Rick R. Endo
  • Patent number: 7819985
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing individual wafers comprising; a means for holding the wafer; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the wafer; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Alexander Ko, Rick R. Endo
  • Patent number: 7585686
    Abstract: A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J Kelly Truman, Christopher T Lane, Sasson R Somekh
  • Publication number: 20090205677
    Abstract: A single wafer cleaning apparatus that includes a rotatable bracket that can hold a wafer, a rinse fluid having a first surface tension, a second fluid having a second surface tension lower than the first surface tension, a first nozzle capable of applying the rinse fluid at a first location on the wafer positioned in the bracket, second nozzle capable of applying the second fluid at a second location on the wafer where the second location is inboard of the first location, and the first nozzle and the second nozzle are capable of moving across the wafer to translate the first location and the second location from the wafer center to the wafer outer edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventors: Randhir Thakur, Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman
  • Publication number: 20090026150
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for mixing chemicals in a single wafer process. According to the present invention a chemical is fed into a valve system having a tube of a known volume. The chemical is fed into the valve system to fill the tube with a chemical to generate a measured amount of the chemical. The measured amount of chemical is then used in a single wafer process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Rick R. Endo, Alexander Ko
  • Publication number: 20090020144
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing individual substrates comprising; a means for holding the substrate; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the substrate; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: STEVEN VERHAVERBEKE, J. Kelly Truman, Alexander Ko, Rick R. Endo
  • Publication number: 20080314424
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing individual wafers comprising; a means for holding the wafer; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the wafer; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Alexander Ko, Rick R. Endo
  • Publication number: 20080286697
    Abstract: A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J Kelly Truman, Christopher T. Lane, Sasson R. Somekh
  • Patent number: 7451774
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing individual wafers comprising; a means for holding the wafer; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the wafer; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Alexander Ko, Rick R. Endo
  • Patent number: 7449127
    Abstract: The present invention is a novel cleaning method and a solution for use in a single wafer cleaning process. According to the present invention the cleaning solution comprises ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), water (H2O) and a chelating agent. In an embodiment of the present invention the cleaning solution also contains a surfactant. And still yet another embodiment of the present invention the cleaning solution also comprises a dissolved gas such as H2. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, this solution is used by spraying or dispensing it on a spinning wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman
  • Publication number: 20080145797
    Abstract: A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Steven Verha Verbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Christopher T. Lane, Sasson R. Somekh
  • Publication number: 20080138917
    Abstract: A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: STEVEN VERHAVERBEKE, J KELLY TRUMAN, CHRISTOPHER T. LANE, SASSON R. SOMEKH
  • Patent number: 7334588
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing individual wafers comprising; a means for holding the wafer; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the wafer; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Alexander Ko, Rick R. Endo
  • Patent number: 7205023
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for mixing chemicals in a single wafer process. According to the present invention a chemical is fed into a valve system having a tube of a known volume. The chemical is fed into the valve system to fill the tube with a chemical to generate a measured amount of the chemical. The measured amount of chemical is then used in a single wafer process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Rick R. Endo, Alexander Ko
  • Patent number: 7159599
    Abstract: A method of a single wafer wet/dry cleaning apparatus comprising: a transfer chamber having a wafer handler contained therein; a first single wafer wet cleaning chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber; and a first single wafer ashing chamber directly coupled to the transfer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J Kelly Truman, Christopher T Lane, Sasson R Somekh
  • Publication number: 20060260659
    Abstract: An apparatus for wet processing individual wafers comprising; a means for holding the wafer; a means for providing acoustic energy to a non-device side of the wafer; and a means for flowing a fluid onto a device side of the wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2006
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman, Alexander Ko, Rick Endo
  • Patent number: 7037842
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a wafer is described. According to the present invention a wafer is placed on a substrate support. A liquid is then fed through a conduit having an output opening over the wafer. A gas is dissolved in the liquid prior to the liquid reaching the output over the wafer by flowing a gas into the conduit through a venturi opening formed in the conduit. The liquid with dissolved gas is then fed through the opening and onto the wafer where it can be used to etch, clean, or rinse a wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman
  • Patent number: 7021319
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of assisting the rinsing of a wafer in a single wafer cleaning apparatus. According to the present invention, after exposing a wafer to a cleaning and/or etching solution, the cleaning or etching solution is removed from the wafer by spinning the wafer and dispensing or spraying DI water onto the wafer as it is spun. The centrifugal force of the spinning wafer enhances the rinsing of the wafer. In order to enhance the rinsing of the wafer, in an embodiment of the present invention a solution having a lower surface tension than water, such as but not limited to isopropyl alcohol (IPA) is dispensed in liquid or vapor form onto the wafer after the DI water. In a specific embodiment of the present invention, the vapor of a solution with a lower surface tension than DI water, such as IPA vapor, is blown on the wafer in order to break up the DI water bulging up at the center of the spinning wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman
  • Patent number: 6927176
    Abstract: The present invention is a novel cleaning method and a solution for use in a single wafer cleaning process. According to the present invention the cleaning solution comprises ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), water (H2O) and a chelating agent. In an embodiment of the present invention the cleaning solution also contains a surfactant. And still yet another embodiment of the present invention the cleaning solution also comprises a dissolved gas such as H2. In a particular embodiment of the present invention, this solution is used by spraying or dispensing it on a spinning wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Verhaverbeke, J. Kelly Truman