Patents by Inventor John Michael Kern

John Michael Kern 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: 20230411124
    Abstract: A method for forming a component for a plasma processing chamber is provided. An internal mold is provided. An external mold is provided around the internal mold. The external mold is filled with a ceramic powder, wherein the ceramic powder surrounds the internal mold. The ceramic powder is sintered to form a solid part. The solid part is removed from the external mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: John Michael KERNS, David Joseph WETZEL, Lin XU, Pankaj HAZARIKA, Douglas DETERT, Lei LIU, Eric A. PAPE
  • Publication number: 20230088848
    Abstract: A component of a plasma processing chamber having a coating on at least one surface that comprises yttrium aluminum. The coating is an aerosol deposited coating from a powder mixture of an yttrium oxide powder and an aluminum-containing powder and having an yttrium to aluminum ratio of 4:1 to 1:4 by molar number. The coating can be annealed to form a porous ternary oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Lin XU, David Joseph WETZEL, Satish SRINIVASAN, Robin KOSHY, John Michael KERNS, John DAUGHERTY
  • Publication number: 20230020387
    Abstract: A method for forming a coating on a component of a substrate processing system includes arranging the component in a processing chamber and applying a ceramic material to form the coating on one or more surfaces of the component. The ceramic material is comprised of a mixture including a rare earth oxide and having a grain size of less than 150 nm and is applied while a temperature within the processing chamber is less than 400° C. The coating has a thickness of less than 30 ?m. A heat treatment process is performed on the coated component in a heat treatment chamber. The heat treatment process includes increasing a temperature of the heat treatment chamber from a first temperature to a second temperature that does not exceed a melting temperature of the mixture over a first period and maintaining the second temperature for a second period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: David Joseph WETZEL, Lin XU, John DAUGHERTY, John Michael KERNS, Satish SRINIVASAN, Robin KOSHY, Michael LOPEZ, Douglas DETERT
  • Publication number: 20220392753
    Abstract: A component of a plasma processing chamber having at least one plasma facing surface of the component comprises single crystal metal oxide material. The component can be machined from a single crystal metal oxide ingot. Suitable single crystal metal oxides include spinel, yttrium oxide, and yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG). A single crystal metal oxide can be machined to form a gas injector of a plasma processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Lin XU, Douglas DETERT, John DAUGHERTY, Pankaj HAZARIKA, Satish SRINIVASAN, Nash W. ANDERSON, John Michael KERNS, Robin KOSHY, David Joseph WETZEL, Lei LIU, Eric A. PAPE
  • Publication number: 20210341377
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring contamination on a critical surface of a part is provided. A vessel for mounting the part is provided. An inert gas source is in fluid connection with the vessel and adapted to provide an inert gas to the vessel. At least one diffuser receives the inert gas from the vessel, wherein the critical surface of the part is exposed to the inert gas when the part is mounted in the vessel. At least one analyzer is adapted to receive inert gas from the at least one diffuser and measures contaminants in the inert gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Amir A. YASSERI, Girish M. HUNDI, John Michael KERNS, Duane OUTKA, John DAUGHERTY, Cliff LA CROIX
  • Patent number: 10473697
    Abstract: There is provided a system for use with a fiber-optic current transducer. The system includes a processing unit configured to transduce a first light signal into a first electrical signal. The processing unit is further configured to transduce a second light signal into a second electrical signal. Furthermore, the processing unit is configured to remove offsets from the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal by forcing the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal to be on the same per unit basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Wallace, John Michael Kern, Richard Young, Brian Ross
  • Publication number: 20180127868
    Abstract: A fluid handling component for a vacuum chamber of a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus is provided. The fluid handling component comprises interior fluid wetted surfaces and an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or molecular layer deposition (MLD) barrier coating on the interior fluid wetted surfaces wherein the fluid wetted surfaces which include the ALD or MLD barrier coating are configured to be contacted by a process gas and/or fluid during a semiconductor substrate processing process wherein the ALD or MLD barrier coating protects the underlying fluid wetted surfaces from erosion and/or corrosion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Lin XU, Hong SHIH, Nash ANDERSON, Tom STEVENSON, John DAUGHERTY, John Michael KERNS, Robert Griffith O'NEILL
  • Patent number: 9873940
    Abstract: A coating system for forming an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or a molecular layer deposition (MLD) barrier coating on interior fluid wetted surfaces of a fluid handling component for a vacuum chamber of a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus. The coating system includes the fluid handling component, wherein the interior fluid wetted surfaces define a process region of the coating system, a gas supply system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the gas supply system supplies process gases to the process region of the component through the inlet port thereof such that an ALD or MLD barrier coating can be formed on the fluid wetted surfaces of the fluid handling component, and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the exhaust system exhausts the process gases from the process region of the component through the outlet port thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Xu, Hong Shih, Nash Anderson, Tom Stevenson, John Daugherty, John Michael Kerns, Robert Griffith O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20170040147
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a plasma etching system may include a process gas source, a plasma processing chamber, and a gas supply conduit. A plasma can be formed from a process gas recipe in the plasma processing chamber. The gas supply conduit may include a corrosion resistant layered structure forming an inner recipe contacting surface and an outer environment contacting surface. The corrosion resistant layered structure may include a protective silicon layer, a passivated coupling layer and a stainless steel layer. The inner recipe contacting surface can be formed by the protective silicon layer. The passivated coupling layer can be disposed between the protective silicon layer and the stainless steel layer. The passivated coupling layer can include chrome oxide and iron oxide. The chrome oxide can be more abundant in the passivated coupling layer than the iron oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Shih, John Michael Kerns, Yan Fang, Allan Ronne
  • Patent number: 9546432
    Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong Shih, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, William Charles, John Daugherty, Sivakami Ramanathan, Russell Ormond, Robert G. O'Neill, Tom Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20160379806
    Abstract: In accordance with this disclosure, there are provided several inventions, including an apparatus and method for depositing plasma resistant coatings on polymer materials used in a plasma processing chamber. In a particular example, such a coating may be made on a portion of an electrostatic chuck, where the polymer material is a bead surrounding an adhesive between a chuck base and a ceramic top plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Lin XU, Nash W. ANDERSON, John DAUGHERTY, Thomas R. STEVENSON, John Michael KERNS
  • Publication number: 20160291064
    Abstract: There is provided a system for use with a fiber-optic current transducer. The system includes a processing unit configured to transduce a first light signal into a first electrical signal. The processing unit is further configured to transduce a second light signal into a second electrical signal. Furthermore, the processing unit is configured to remove offsets from the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal by forcing the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal to be on the same per unit basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Daniel Robert Wallace, John Michael Kern, Richard Young, Brian Ross
  • Patent number: 9337002
    Abstract: Components of semiconductor material processing chambers are disclosed, which may include a substrate and at least one corrosion-resistant coating formed on a surface thereof. The at least one corrosion-resistant coating is a high purity metal coating formed by a cold-spray technique. An anodized layer can be formed on the high purity metal coating. The anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more of the components are also disclosed, the components being selected from the group consisting of a chamber liner, an electrostatic chuck, a focus ring, a chamber wall, an edge ring, a plasma confinement ring, a substrate support, a baffle, a gas distribution plate, a gas distribution ring, a gas nozzle, a heating element, a plasma screen, a transport mechanism, a gas supply system, a lift mechanism, a load lock, a door mechanism, a robotic arm and a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Daugherty, Hong Shih, Lin Xu, Anthony Amadio, Robert G. O'Neill, Peter Holland, Sivakami Ramanathan, Tae Won Kim, Duane Outka, John Michael Kerns, Sonia Castillo
  • Publication number: 20150337450
    Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong SHIH, Lin XU, John Michael KERNS, William CHARLES, John DAUGHERTY, Sivakami RAMANATHAN, Russell ORMOND, Robert G. O'NEILL, Tom STEVENSON
  • Patent number: 9123651
    Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hong Shih, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, William Charles, John Daugherty, Sivakami Ramanathan, Russell Ormond, Robert G. O'Neill, Tom Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20150184296
    Abstract: A coating system for forming an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or a molecular layer deposition (MLD) barrier coating on interior fluid wetted surfaces of a fluid handling component for a vacuum chamber of a semiconductor substrate processing apparatus. The coating system includes the fluid handling component, wherein the interior fluid wetted surfaces define a process region of the coating system, a gas supply system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the gas supply system supplies process gases to the process region of the component through the inlet port thereof such that an ALD or MLD barrier coating can be formed on the fluid wetted surfaces of the fluid handling component, and an exhaust system in fluid communication with the process region of the component wherein the exhaust system exhausts the process gases from the process region of the component through the outlet port thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Lin Xu, Hong Shih, Nash Anderson, Tom Stevenson, John Daugherty, John Michael Kerns, Robert Griffith O'Neill
  • Publication number: 20150187615
    Abstract: A semiconductor plasma processing apparatus used to process semiconductor components comprises a plasma processing chamber, a process gas source in fluid communication with the plasma processing chamber for supplying a process gas into the plasma processing chamber, a RF energy source adapted to energize the process gas into the plasma state in the plasma processing chamber, and a vacuum port for exhausting process gas from the plasma processing chamber. The semiconductor plasma processing apparatus further comprises at least one component wherein the component has a body which has a relative magnetic permeability of about 70,000 or greater and a cold sprayed electrically conductive and nonmagnetic coating on a surface of the body wherein the coating has a thickness greater than the skin depth of a RF current configured to flow therethrough during plasma processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: John Daugherty, Hong Shih, Anthony Amadio, Tom Stevenson, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, Robert Griffith O'Neill, Sonia Castillo
  • Publication number: 20140315392
    Abstract: A cold spray barrier coated component of a semiconductor plasma processing chamber comprises a substrate having at least one metal surface wherein a portion of the metal surface is configured to form an electrical contact. A cold spray barrier coating is formed from a thermally and electrically conductive material on at least the metal surface configured to form the electrical contact of the substrate. Further, the cold spray barrier coating may also be located on a plasma exposed and/or process gas exposed surface of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Lin Xu, Hong Shih, Anthony Amadio, Rajinder Dhindsa, John Michael Kerns, John Daugherty
  • Publication number: 20140295670
    Abstract: A method of forming a dense oxide coating on an aluminum component of semiconductor processing equipment comprises cold spraying a layer of pure aluminum on a surface of the aluminum component to a predetermined thickness. A dense oxide coating is then formed on the layer of pure aluminum using a plasma electrolytic oxidation process, wherein the plasma electrolytic oxidation process causes the layer of pure aluminum to undergo microplasmic discharges, thus forming the dense oxide coating on the layer of pure aluminum on the surface of the aluminum component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2013
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Hong Shih, Lin Xu, John Michael Kerns, William Charles, John Daugherty, Sivakami Ramanathan, Russell Ormond, Robert G. O'Neill, Tom Stevenson
  • Publication number: 20140272459
    Abstract: Components of semiconductor material processing chambers are disclosed, which may include a substrate and at least one corrosion-resistant coating formed on a surface thereof. The at least one corrosion-resistant coating is a high purity metal coating formed by a cold-spray technique. An anodized layer can be formed on the high purity metal coating. The anodized layer comprises a process-exposed surface of the component. Semiconductor material processing apparatuses including one or more of the components are also disclosed, the components being selected from the group consisting of a chamber liner, an electrostatic chuck, a focus ring, a chamber wall, an edge ring, a plasma confinement ring, a substrate support, a baffle, a gas distribution plate, a gas distribution ring, a gas nozzle, a heating element, a plasma screen, a transport mechanism, a gas supply system, a lift mechanism, a load lock, a door mechanism, a robotic arm and a fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Daugherty, Hong Shih, Lin Xu, Anthony Amadio, Robert G. O'Neill, Peter Holland, Sivakami Ramanathan, Tae Won Kim, Duane Outka, John Michael Kerns, Sonia Castillo