Patents by Inventor Keith Tatseun WONG

Keith Tatseun WONG 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: 20250054739
    Abstract: A method includes flowing an evaporated low vapor pressure organic molecule (OM) into a processing chamber including a substrate. The method further includes depositing, in the processing chamber, the low vapor pressure OM onto at least a portion of the substrate at a first temperature and a first pressure to form a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on at least the portion of the substrate. The method further includes annealing, in the processing chamber, the SAM on at least the portion of the substrate at a second temperature and a second pressure. The second pressure is greater than the first pressure and the second temperature is greater than the first temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Inventors: Qiwei Liang, Srinivas D. Nemani, Keith Tatseun Wong, Antony K. Jan
  • Patent number: 12198951
    Abstract: A high-pressure processing system for processing a substrate includes a first chamber, a pedestal positioned within the first chamber to support the substrate, a second chamber adjacent the first chamber, a vacuum processing system configured to lower a pressure within the second chamber to near vacuum, a valve assembly between the first chamber and the second chamber to isolate the pressure within the first chamber from the pressure within the second chamber, and a gas delivery system configured to introduce a processing gas into the first chamber and to increase the pressure within the first chamber to at least 10 atmospheres while the processing gas is in the first chamber and while the first chamber is isolated from the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Qiwei Liang, Srinivas D. Nemani, Adib Khan, Venkata Ravishankar Kasibhotla, Sultan Malik, Sean S. Kang, Keith Tatseun Wong
  • Publication number: 20240420934
    Abstract: Exemplary methods of semiconductor processing may include methods for nonconformally building up silicon-and-oxygen-containing material where the top of the feature preferentially fills at a slower rate as compared to the bottom of the feature. Such methods may include iterative nonconformal etching operations and/or iterative nonconformal inhibition operations. For example, after building up a layer comprising silicon-and-oxygen-containing material, the layer may be nonconformally etched before building up another layer comprising silicon-and-oxygen-containing material. In another example, in the building up of the layer, an inhibitor may be introduced preferentially at and near the top of the features to provide nonconformal buildup of the silicon-and-oxygen-containing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: December 19, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhaskar Soman, Yanze Wu, Zeqing Shen, Supriya Ghosh, Susmit Singha Roy, Abhijit Basu Mallick, Siyao Wang, Keith Tatseun Wong, Lakmal C. Kalutarage
  • Patent number: 12142467
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a substrate processing chamber, a substrate processing apparatus, and a substrate processing method for self-assembled monolayer (SAM) deposition of low vapor pressure organic molecules (OM) followed by further substrate processing, such as atomic layer deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Qiwei Liang, Srinivas D. Nemani, Keith Tatseun Wong, Antony K. Jan
  • Publication number: 20240306391
    Abstract: Two-dimensional (2D) materials formed in very thin layers improve the operation of semiconductor devices. However, forming a contact on 2D material tends to damage and penetrate the 2D material. A relatively gentle etch process has been developed that is very selective to the 2D material and allows vertical holes to be etched down to the 2D material without damaging or penetrating the 2D material. A low-power deposition process forms a protective liner when performing the metal fill to further prevent damage to the 2D material when forming the metal contacts in the holes. These processes allow a vertical metal contact to be formed on a planar 2D material or a vertical sidewall contact be formed in a 3D NAND without damaging the 2D material. This increases the contact area, reduces the contact resistance, and improves the performance of the 2D material in the device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hao-Ling Tang, Arvind Kumar, Mahendra Pakala, Keith Tatseun Wong, Yi-Hsuan Hsiao, Dongqing Yang, Mark Conrad, Rio Soedibyo, Minrui Yu
  • Patent number: 11993845
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a metal containing material formed on a certain material of a substrate using an atomic layer deposition process for semiconductor applications are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming a metal containing material on a substrate comprises pulsing a first gas precursor comprising a metal containing precursor to a surface of a substrate, pulsing a second gas precursor comprising a silicon containing precursor to the surface of the substrate, forming a metal containing material selectively on a first material of the substrate, and thermal annealing the metal containing material formed on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Choi, Christopher Ahles, Andrew C. Kummel, Keith Tatseun Wong, Srinivas D. Nemani
  • Patent number: 11993842
    Abstract: Embodiments described and discussed herein provide methods for selectively depositing a metal oxides on a substrate. In one or more embodiments, methods for forming a metal oxide material includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, where the substrate has passivated and non-passivated surfaces, exposing the substrate to a first metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a first metal oxide layer on or over the non-passivated surface, and exposing the substrate to a second metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a second metal oxide layer on the first metal oxide layer. The method also includes sequentially repeating exposing the substrate to the first and second metal alkoxide precursors to produce a laminate film containing alternating layers of the first and second metal oxide layers. Each of the first and second metal alkoxide precursors contains a different metal selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminum, or lanthanum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignees: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun Wong, Srinivas D. Nemani, Andrew C. Kummel, James Huang, Yunil Cho
  • Publication number: 20230377958
    Abstract: Methods for forming a transition metal material on a substrate and thermal processing such metal containing material in a cluster processing system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a device structure for semiconductor devices includes forming a two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide layer on a substrate in a first processing chamber disposed in a cluster processing system, thermally treating the two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide layer to form a treated metal layer in a second processing chamber disposed in the cluster processing system, and forming a capping layer on the treated metal layer in a third processing chamber disposed in the cluster processing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 23, 2023
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun WONG, Srinivas D. NEMANI, Ellie Y. YIEH
  • Publication number: 20230298893
    Abstract: An annealing system is provided that includes a chamber body that defines a chamber, a support to hold a workpiece and a robot to insert the workpiece into the chamber. The annealing system also includes a first gas supply to provide a hydrogen gas, a pressure source coupled to the chamber to raise a pressure in the chamber to at least 5 atmospheres, and a controller configured to cause the robot to transport a workpiece having a metal film thereon into the chamber, where the metal film contains fluorine on a surface or embedded within the metal film, to cause the first gas supply to supply the hydrogen gas to the chamber and form atomic hydrogen therein, and to cause the pressure source to raise a pressure in the chamber to at least 5 atmospheres while the workpiece is held on the support in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun WONG, Thomas Jongwan KWON, Sean KANG, Ellie Y. YIEH
  • Patent number: 11756828
    Abstract: Methods for forming a transition metal material on a substrate and thermal processing such metal containing material in a cluster processing system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for a device structure for semiconductor devices includes forming a two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide layer on a substrate in a first processing chamber disposed in a cluster processing system, thermally treating the two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide layer to form a treated metal layer in a second processing chamber disposed in the cluster processing system, and forming a capping layer on the treated metal layer in a third processing chamber disposed in the cluster processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun Wong, Srinivas D. Nemani, Ellie Y. Yieh
  • Patent number: 11705337
    Abstract: An annealing system is provided that includes a chamber body that defines a chamber, a support to hold a workpiece and a robot to insert the workpiece into the chamber. The annealing system also includes a first gas supply to provide a hydrogen gas, a pressure source coupled to the chamber to raise a pressure in the chamber to at least 5 atmospheres, and a controller configured to cause the robot to transport a workpiece having a metal film thereon into the chamber, where the metal film contains fluorine on a surface or embedded within the metal film, to cause the first gas supply to supply the hydrogen gas to the chamber and form atomic hydrogen therein, and to cause the pressure source to raise a pressure in the chamber to at least 5 atmospheres while the workpiece is held on the support in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun Wong, Thomas Jongwan Kwon, Sean Kang, Ellie Y. Yieh
  • Patent number: 11664215
    Abstract: Methods for depositing a metal containing material formed on a certain material of a substrate using an atomic layer deposition process for semiconductor applications are provided. In one example, a method of forming a metal containing material on a substrate comprises pulsing a first gas precursor comprising a metal containing precursor to a surface of a substrate, pulsing a second gas precursor comprising a carboxylic acid to the surface of the substrate, and forming a metal containing material selectively on a first material of the substrate. In another example, a method of forming a metal containing material on a substrate includes selectively forming a metal containing layer on a silicon material or a metal material on a substrate than on an insulating material on the substrate by an atomic layer deposition process by alternatively supplying a metal containing precursor and a water free precursor to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Ahles, Jong Choi, Andrew C. Kummel, Keith Tatseun Wong, Srinivas D. Nemani
  • Publication number: 20230122224
    Abstract: Embodiments described and discussed herein provide methods for selectively depositing a metal oxides on a substrate. In one or more embodiments, methods for forming a metal oxide material includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, where the substrate has passivated and non-passivated surfaces, exposing the substrate to a first metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a first metal oxide layer on or over the non-passivated surface, and exposing the substrate to a second metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a second metal oxide layer on the first metal oxide layer. The method also includes sequentially repeating exposing the substrate to the first and second metal alkoxide precursors to produce a laminate film containing alternating layers of the first and second metal oxide layers. Each of the first and second metal alkoxide precursors contains a different metal selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminum, or lanthanum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun WONG, Srinivas D. NEMANI, Andrew C. KUMMEL, James HUANG, Yunil CHO
  • Patent number: 11542597
    Abstract: Embodiments described and discussed herein provide methods for selectively depositing a metal oxides on a substrate. In one or more embodiments, methods for forming a metal oxide material includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, where the substrate has passivated and non-passivated surfaces, exposing the substrate to a first metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a first metal oxide layer on or over the non-passivated surface, and exposing the substrate to a second metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a second metal oxide layer on the first metal oxide layer. The method also includes sequentially repeating exposing the substrate to the first and second metal alkoxide precursors to produce a laminate film containing alternating layers of the first and second metal oxide layers. Each of the first and second metal alkoxide precursors contain different types of metals which are selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminum, or lanthanum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC., THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun Wong, Srinivas D. Nemani, Andrew C. Kummel, James Huang, Yunil Cho
  • Publication number: 20220310776
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. For example, a method of processing a substrate in an integrated tool comprising a physical vapor deposition chamber and a thermal atomic layer deposition chamber comprises depositing, in the physical vapor deposition chamber, a bottom layer of titanium nitride on the substrate to a thickness of about 10 nm to about 80 nm, transferring, without vacuum break, the substrate from the physical vapor deposition chamber to the thermal atomic layer deposition chamber for depositing a nanolaminate layer of high-k material atop the bottom layer of titanium nitride to a thickness of about 2 nm to about 10 nm, and transferring, without vacuum break, the substrate from the thermal atomic layer deposition chamber to the physical vapor deposition chamber for depositing a top layer of titanium nitride atop the nanolaminate layer of high-k material to a thickness of about 10 nm to about 80 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun WONG, Srinivas D. NEMANI, Ellie YIEH, Tony P. CHIANG
  • Publication number: 20210375600
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a substrate processing chamber, a substrate processing apparatus, and a substrate processing method for self-assembled monolayer (SAM) deposition of low vapor pressure organic molecules (OM) followed by further substrate processing, such as atomic layer deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Qiwei Liang, Srinivas D. Nemani, Keith Tatseun Wong, Antony K. Jan
  • Publication number: 20210317573
    Abstract: Embodiments described and discussed herein provide methods for selectively depositing a metal oxides on a substrate. In one or more embodiments, methods for forming a metal oxide material includes positioning a substrate within a processing chamber, where the substrate has passivated and non-passivated surfaces, exposing the substrate to a first metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a first metal oxide layer on or over the non-passivated surface, and exposing the substrate to a second metal alkoxide precursor to selectively deposit a second metal oxide layer on the first metal oxide layer. The method also includes sequentially repeating exposing the substrate to the first and second metal alkoxide precursors to produce a laminate film containing alternating layers of the first and second metal oxide layers. Each of the first and second metal alkoxide precursors contain different types of metals which are selected from titanium, zirconium, hafnium, aluminum, or lanthanum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 14, 2021
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun WONG, Srinivas D. NEMANI, Andrew C. KUMMEL, James HUANG, Yunil CHO
  • Patent number: 10957590
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits, and more particularly, to methods for forming a layer. The layer may be a mask used in lithography process to pattern and form a trench. The mask is formed over a substrate having at least two distinct materials by a selective deposition process. The edges of the mask are disposed on an intermediate layer formed on at least one of the two distinct materials. The method includes removing the intermediate layer to form a gap between edges of the mask and the substrate and filling the gap with a different material than the mask or with the same material as the mask. By filling the gap with the same or different material as the mask, electrical paths are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wenhui Wang, Huixiong Dai, Christopher S. Ngai, Liqi Wu, Wenyu Zhang, Yongmei Chen, Hao Chen, Keith Tatseun Wong, Ke Chang
  • Patent number: 10916426
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to forming a two-dimensional crystalline dichalcogenide by positioning a substrate in an annealing apparatus. The substrate includes an amorphous film of a transition metal and a chalcogenide. The film is annealed at a temperature from 500° C. to 1200° C. In response to the annealing, a two-dimensional crystalline structure is formed from the film. The two-dimensional crystalline structure is according to a formula MX2, M includes one or more of molybdenum (Mo) or tungsten (W) and X includes one or more of sulfur (S), selenium (Se), or tellurium (Te).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun Wong, Srinivas D. Nemani, Ellie Y. Yieh
  • Patent number: 10847360
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to processes for treating a silicon nitride film on a workpiece including supporting the workpiece in a chamber, introducing an amine gas into the chamber and establishing a pressure of at least 5 atmospheres, and exposing the silicon nitride film on the workpiece to the amine gas while the pressure in the chamber is at least 5 atmospheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun Wong, Sean Kang, Srinivas D. Nemani, Ellie Y. Yieh