Patents by Inventor Joseph R. Abel

Joseph R. Abel 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: 20220293442
    Abstract: Methods and system are provided for dynamic process control in substrate processing, for example in semiconductor manufacturing applications. Some example systems and methods are provided for advanced monitoring and machine learning in atomic layer deposition (ALD) processes. Some examples also relate to dynamic process control and monitoring for chamber parameter matching and gas line charge times.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Purushottam Kumar, Tengfei Miao, Gengwei Jiang, Daniel Ho, Joseph R. Abel, Siddappa Attur, Pulkit Agarwal
  • Publication number: 20220238325
    Abstract: Methods of providing control of film properties during atomic layer deposition using intermittent plasma treatment in-situ are provided herein. Methods include modulating gas flow rate ratios used to generate plasma during intermittent plasma treatment, toggling plasma power, and modulating chamber pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Douglas Walter Agnew, Joseph R. Abel, Ian John Curtin, Purushottam Kumar, Awnish Gupta
  • Publication number: 20220165563
    Abstract: A method for doping a substrate is provided. A silicon oxide diffusion barrier layer is formed on a surface of the substrate. At least one dopant layer is deposited over the silicon oxide diffusion barrier layer. A cap layer is deposited over the at least one dopant layer forming a stack of the substrate, the silicon oxide diffusion layer, the at least one dopant layer, and the cap layer. The stack is annealed. The cap layer, at least one dopant layer, and the silicon oxide diffusion barrier layer are removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Purushottam KUMAR, Gengwei JIANG, Bart J. VAN SCHRAVENDIJK, Tengfei MIAO, Joseph R. ABEL, Adrien LAVOIE
  • Publication number: 20220037146
    Abstract: Various embodiments include methods to produce low dielectric-constant (low-k) films. In one embodiment, alternating ALD cycles and dopant materials are used to generate a new family of silicon low-k materials. Specifically, these materials were developed to fill high-aspect-ratio structures with re-entrant features. However, such films are also useful in blanket applications where conformal nanolaminates are applicable. Various embodiments also disclose SiOF as well as SiOCF, SiONF, GeOCF, and GeOF. Analogous films may include halide derivatives with iodine and bromine (e.g., replace “F” with “I” or “Br”). Other methods, chemistries, and techniques are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Joseph R. Abel, Douglas Walter Agnew, Adrien Lavoie, Ian John Curtin, Purushottam Kumar
  • Publication number: 20210398780
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided comprising a process chamber, a precursor gas source, a reactant gas source, an inhibitor gas source, a passivation gas source, a gas, a switching manifold, and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Adrien LAVOIE, Joseph R. ABEL, Douglas Walter AGNEW, Ian John CURTIN
  • Publication number: 20210384029
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for modifying a wafer surface using an organosilicon precursor are provided herein. The wafer surface is dosed with the organosilicon precursor following deposition of a dielectric material by an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process. In some implementations, the dielectric layer is made of silicon oxide. Dosing the wafer surface with the organosilicon precursor may occur in the same chamber as the ALD process. The organosilicon precursor may modify the wafer surface to increase its hydrophobicity so that photoresist adhesion is improved on the wafer surface. In some implementations, the wafer surface may be exposed to an inert gas RF plasma after dosing the wafer surface with the organosilicon precursor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Fields, Awnish Gupta, Douglas W. Agnew, Joseph R. Abel, Purushottam Kumar
  • Publication number: 20210272801
    Abstract: A method for processing a substrate is described. A first reactant in vapor phase is introduced into a reaction chamber having the substrate therein. The first reactant is allowed to be adsorb onto the substrate surface. The non-reactive portion of the first reactant is purged from the reaction chamber after a flow of the first reactant has ceased. The second reactant is introduced in vapor phase into the reaction chamber while the first reactant is adsorbed onto the substrate surface. The second reactant comprises a 1:1:1 ratio of dihydrogen (H2), a nitrogen-containing reactant, and an oxygen-containing reactant. A plasma is ignited based on the second reactant. The substrate surface is exposed to the plasma. The plasma is extinguished. Gas from the reaction chamber is purged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Douglas Walter Agnew, Joseph R. Abel, Bart Jan van Schravendijk
  • Publication number: 20210202250
    Abstract: A method for forming features over a wafer with a carbon based deposition is provided. The carbon based deposition is pretuned, wherein the pretuning causes a non-uniform removal of some of the carbon based deposition. An oxide deposition is deposited through an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the depositing the oxide deposition causes a non-uniform removal of some of the carbon based deposition. At least one additional process is provided, wherein the at least one additional process completes formation of features over the wafer, wherein the features are more uniform than features that would be formed without pretuning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Ishtak KARIM, Pulkit AGARWAL, Joseph R. ABEL, Purushottam KUMAR, Adrien LAVOIE
  • Patent number: 10658172
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for depositing material into high aspect ratio features, features in a multi-laminate stack, features having positively sloped sidewalls, features having negatively sloped sidewalls, features having a re-entrant profile, and/or features having sidewall topography are described herein. Methods involve depositing a first amount of material, such as a dielectric (e.g., silicon oxide), into a feature and forming a sacrificial helmet on the field surface of the substrate, etching some of the first amount of the material to open the feature opening and/or smoothen sidewalls of the feature, and depositing a second amount of material to fill the feature. The sacrificial helmet may be the same as or different material from the first amount of material deposited into the feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph R. Abel, Pulkit Agarwal, Richard Phillips, Purushottam Kumar, Adrien LaVoie
  • Publication number: 20190206677
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for depositing material into high aspect ratio features, features in a multi-laminate stack, features having positively sloped sidewalls, features having negatively sloped sidewalls, features having a re-entrant profile, and/or features having sidewall topography are described herein. Methods involve depositing a first amount of material, such as a dielectric (e.g., silicon oxide), into a feature and forming a sacrificial helmet on the field surface of the substrate, etching some of the first amount of the material to open the feature opening and/or smoothen sidewalls of the feature, and depositing a second amount of material to fill the feature. The sacrificial helmet may be the same as or different material from the first amount of material deposited into the feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph R. Abel, Pulkit Agarwal, Richard Phillips, Purushottam Kumar, Adrien LaVoie