Patents by Inventor Jiheng ZHAO

Jiheng ZHAO 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: 11814716
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a gasbox. The chambers may include a substrate support. The chambers may include a blocker plate positioned between the gasbox and the substrate support. The blocker plate may define a plurality of apertures through the plate. The chambers may include a faceplate positioned between the blocker plate and substrate support. The faceplate may be characterized by a first surface facing the blocker plate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of the faceplate and the substrate support may at least partially define a processing region within the semiconductor processing chamber. The faceplate may be characterized by a central axis, and the faceplate may define a plurality of apertures through the faceplate. The faceplate may define a central recess about the central axis extending from the second surface of the faceplate to a depth less than a thickness of the faceplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang Ruan, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Jiheng Zhao, Diwakar Kedlaya
  • Publication number: 20230097346
    Abstract: A flow guide apparatus includes an upper flow guide structure configured to receive a first gas from a remote source, and a lower flow guide structure attached to the upper flow guide structure. The upper flow guide structure and the lower flow guide structure are configured to receive at least one gas from at least one remote source. The flow guide apparatus further includes a line diffuser structure disposed between the lower flow guide structure and the upper flow guide structure. The line diffuser structure has a long axis along a length of the upper flow guide structure and a short axis. The line diffuser structure includes a plurality of through holes that are configured to approximately evenly distribute the at least one gas as it is output into a reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Jiheng Zhao, Guangwei Sun, Jrjyan Jerry Chen, Jeffrey Kho
  • Patent number: 11613808
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include forming a seasoning film on a heater of a processing chamber by a first deposition process. The method may include performing a hardmask deposition process in the processing chamber. The method may include cleaning the processing chamber by a first cleaning process. The method may include monitoring a gas produced during the first cleaning process. The method may include cleaning the processing chamber using a second cleaning process different from the first cleaning process. The method may also include monitoring the gas produced during the second cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiheng Zhao, Abdul Aziz Khaja, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Fang Ruan
  • Publication number: 20230048661
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for chucking in substrate processing chambers. In one implementation, a method of chucking one or more substrates in a substrate processing chamber includes applying a chucking voltage to a pedestal. A substrate is disposed on a support surface of the pedestal. The method also includes ramping the chucking voltage from the applied voltage, detecting an impedance shift while ramping the chucking voltage, determining a corresponding chucking voltage at which the impedance shift occurs, and determining a refined chucking voltage based on the impedance shift and the corresponding chucking voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Bhaskar KUMAR, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Vivek Bharat SHAH, Jiheng ZHAO
  • Patent number: 11488811
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for chucking in substrate processing chambers. In one implementation, a method of chucking one or more substrates in a substrate processing chamber includes applying a chucking voltage to a pedestal. A substrate is disposed on a support surface of the pedestal. The method also includes ramping the chucking voltage from the applied voltage, detecting an impedance shift while ramping the chucking voltage, determining a corresponding chucking voltage at which the impedance shift occurs, and determining a refined chucking voltage based on the impedance shift and the corresponding chucking voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Kumar, Ganesh Balasubramanian, Vivek Bharat Shah, Jiheng Zhao
  • Publication number: 20220127722
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing methods may include forming a seasoning film on a heater of a processing chamber by a first deposition process. The method may include performing a hardmask deposition process in the processing chamber. The method may include cleaning the processing chamber by a first cleaning process. The method may include monitoring a gas produced during the first cleaning process. The method may include cleaning the processing chamber using a second cleaning process different from the first cleaning process. The method may also include monitoring the gas produced during the second cleaning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiheng Zhao, Abdul Aziz Khaja, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Fang Ruan
  • Publication number: 20210156028
    Abstract: Exemplary semiconductor processing chambers may include a gasbox. The chambers may include a substrate support. The chambers may include a blocker plate positioned between the gasbox and the substrate support. The blocker plate may define a plurality of apertures through the plate. The chambers may include a faceplate positioned between the blocker plate and substrate support. The faceplate may be characterized by a first surface facing the blocker plate and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface of the faceplate and the substrate support may at least partially define a processing region within the semiconductor processing chamber. The faceplate may be characterized by a central axis, and the faceplate may define a plurality of apertures through the faceplate. The faceplate may define a central recess about the central axis extending from the second surface of the faceplate to a depth less than a thickness of the faceplate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Fang Ruan, Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Jiheng Zhao, Diwakar Kedlaya
  • Publication number: 20200286716
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and systems for chucking in substrate processing chambers. In one implementation, a method of chucking one or more substrates in a substrate processing chamber includes applying a chucking voltage to a pedestal. A substrate is disposed on a support surface of the pedestal. The method also includes ramping the chucking voltage from the applied voltage, detecting an impedance shift while ramping the chucking voltage, determining a corresponding chucking voltage at which the impedance shift occurs, and determining a refined chucking voltage based on the impedance shift and the corresponding chucking voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Bhaskar KUMAR, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Vivek Bharat SHAH, Jiheng ZHAO