Patents by Inventor Ken Kaung Lai

Ken Kaung Lai 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: 20190088485
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide an improved apparatus and methods for nitridation of stacks of materials. In one embodiment, a method for processing a substrate in a processing region of a process chamber is provided. The method includes generating and flowing plasma species from a remote plasma source to a delivery member having a longitudinal passageway, flowing plasma species from the longitudinal passageway to an inlet port formed in a sidewall of the process chamber, wherein the plasma species are flowed at an angle into the inlet port to promote collision of ions or reaction of ions with electrons or charged particles in the plasma species such that ions are substantially eliminated from the plasma species before entering the processing region of the process chamber, and selectively incorporating atomic radicals from the plasma species in silicon or polysilicon regions of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Matthew Scott ROGERS, Roger CURTIS, Lara HAWRYLCHAK, Ken Kaung LAI, Bernard L. HWANG, Jeffrey TOBIN, Christopher S. OLSEN, Malcolm BEVAN
  • Patent number: 10049881
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved apparatus and methods for nitridation of stacks of materials. In one embodiment, a remote plasma system includes a remote plasma chamber defining a first region for generating a plasma comprising ions and radicals, a process chamber defining a second region for processing a semiconductor device, the process chamber comprising an inlet port formed in a sidewall of the process chamber, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the second region, and a delivery member disposed between the remote plasma chamber and the process chamber and having a passageway in fluid communication with the first region and the inlet port, wherein the delivery member is configured such that a longitudinal axis of the passageway intersects at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the inlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew S. Rogers, Roger Curtis, Lara Hawrylchak, Ken Kaung Lai, Bernard L. Hwang, Jeffrey Tobin, Christopher Olsen, Malcolm J. Bevan
  • Patent number: 9031685
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber body having a contiguous internal volume comprised of a first deposition region spaced-apart from a second deposition region, the chamber body having a feature operable to minimize intermixing of gases between the first and the second deposition regions, a first gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the first deposition region to enable a first deposition process to be performed in the first deposition region, and a second gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the second deposition region to enable a second deposition process to be performed in the second deposition region is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Chin, Alfred W. Mak, Lawrence C. Lei, Ming Xi, Hua Chung, Ken Kaung Lai, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Publication number: 20140130739
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber body having a contiguous internal volume comprised of a first deposition region spaced-apart from a second deposition region, the chamber body having a feature operable to minimize intermixing of gases between the first and the second deposition regions, a first gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the first deposition region to enable a first deposition process to be performed in the first deposition region, and a second gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the second deposition region to enable a second deposition process to be performed in the second deposition region is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Inventors: Barry L. CHIN, Alfred W. MAK, Lawrence C. LEI, Ming XI, Hua CHUNG, Ken Kaung LAI, Jeong Soo BYUN
  • Patent number: 8626330
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber body having a contiguous internal volume comprised of a first deposition region spaced-apart from a second deposition region, the chamber body having a feature operable to minimize intermixing of gases between the first and the second deposition regions, a first gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the first deposition region to enable a first deposition process to be performed in the first deposition region, and a second gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the second deposition region to enable a second deposition process to be performed in the second deposition region is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Chin, Alfred W. Mak, Lawrence Chung-Lai Lei, Ming Xi, Hua Chung, Ken Kaung Lai, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Publication number: 20130040444
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide an improved apparatus and methods for nitridation of stacks of materials. In one embodiment, a remote plasma system includes a remote plasma chamber defining a first region for generating a plasma comprising ions and radicals, a process chamber defining a second region for processing a semiconductor device, the process chamber comprising an inlet port formed in a sidewall of the process chamber, the inlet port being in fluid communication with the second region, and a delivery member disposed between the remote plasma chamber and the process chamber and having a passageway in fluid communication with the first region and the inlet port, wherein the delivery member is configured such that a longitudinal axis of the passageway intersects at an angle of about 20 degrees to about 80 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the inlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: MATTHEW S. ROGERS, Roger Curtis, Lara Hawrylchak, Ken Kaung Lai, Bernard L. Hwang, Jeffrey Tobin, Christopher Olsen, Malcom J. Bevan
  • Publication number: 20120006265
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a vacuum chamber body having a contiguous internal volume comprised of a first deposition region spaced-apart from a second deposition region, the chamber body having a feature operable to minimize intermixing of gases between the first and the second deposition regions, a first gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the first deposition region to enable a first deposition process to be performed in the first deposition region, and a second gas port formed in the chamber body and positioned to pulse gas preferentially to the second deposition region to enable a second deposition process to be performed in the second deposition region is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Inventors: BARRY L. CHIN, Alfred W. Mak, Lawrence Chung-Lai Lei, Ming Xi, Hua Chung, Ken Kaung Lai, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Patent number: 8027746
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Chin, Alfred W. Mak, Lawrence Chung-Lai Lei, Ming Xi, Hua Chung, Ken Kaung Lai, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Publication number: 20110111603
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: BARRY L. CHIN, ALFRED W. MAK, LAWRENCE CHUNG-LAI LEI, MING XI, HUA CHUNG, KEN KAUNG LAI, JEONG SOO BYUN
  • Patent number: 7860597
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Chin, Alfred W. Mak, Lawrence Chung-Lai Lei, Ming Xi, Hua Chung, Ken Kaung Lai, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Patent number: 7745333
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kaung Lai, Ravi Rajagopalan, Amit Khandelwal, Madhu Moorthy, Srinivas Gandikota, Joseph Castro, Avgerinos V. Gelatos, Cheryl Knepfler, Ping Jian, Hongbin Fang, Chao-Ming Huang, Ming Xi, Michael X. Yang, Hua Chung, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Patent number: 7709385
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate is provided which includes forming a tungsten-containing layer by sequentially exposing a substrate to a processing gas and a tungsten-containing gas during an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the processing gas comprises a boron-containing gas and a nitrogen-containing gas, and forming a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten-containing layer by exposing the substrate to a deposition gas comprising the tungsten-containing gas and a reactive precursor gas during a chemical vapor deposition process. In one example, the tungsten-containing layer and the tungsten bulk layer are deposited within the same processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Xi, Ashok Sinha, Moris Kori, Alfred W. Mak, Xinliang Lu, Ken Kaung Lai, Karl A. Littau
  • Publication number: 20100099270
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Barry L. Chin, Alfred W. Mak, Lawrence Chung-Lai Lei, Ming Xi, Hua Chung, Ken Kaung Lai, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Patent number: 7695563
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing a tungsten material on a substrate within a process chamber is provided which includes exposing the substrate to a gaseous mixture containing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas to deposit a tungsten nucleation layer on the substrate during a tungsten deposition process. The process further includes removing reaction by-products generated during the tungsten deposition process from the process chamber, exposing the substrate to the reducing gas to react with residual tungsten precursor within the process chamber during a soak process, removing reaction by-products generated during the soak process from the process chamber, and repeating the tungsten deposition process and the soak process during a cyclic deposition process. In the examples, the reducing gas may contain diborane or silane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinliang Lu, Ping Jian, Jong Hyun Yoo, Ken Kaung Lai, Alfred W. Mak, Robert L. Jackson, Ming Xi
  • Patent number: 7660644
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for atomic layer deposition (ALD) is described. The apparatus comprises a deposition chamber and a wafer support. The deposition chamber is divided into two or more deposition regions that are integrally connected one to another. The wafer support is movable between the two or more interconnected deposition regions within the deposition chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry L. Chin, Alfred W. Mak, Lawrence Chung-Lai Lei, Ming Xi, Hua Chung, Ken Kaung Lai, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Publication number: 20090156003
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate is provided which includes forming a tungsten-containing layer by sequentially exposing a substrate to a processing gas and a tungsten-containing gas during an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the processing gas comprises a boron-containing gas and a nitrogen-containing gas, and forming a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten-containing layer by exposing the substrate to a deposition gas comprising the tungsten-containing gas and a reactive precursor gas during a chemical vapor deposition process. In one example, the tungsten-containing layer and the tungsten bulk layer are deposited within the same processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: MING XI, Ashok Sinha, Moris Kori, Alfred W. Mak, Xinliang Lu, Ken Kaung Lai, Karl A. Littau
  • Publication number: 20080317954
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for depositing a tungsten material on a substrate within a process chamber is provided which includes exposing the substrate to a gaseous mixture containing a tungsten precursor and a reducing gas to deposit a tungsten nucleation layer on the substrate during a tungsten deposition process. The process further includes removing reaction by-products generated during the tungsten deposition process from the process chamber, exposing the substrate to the reducing gas to react with residual tungsten precursor within the process chamber during a soak process, removing reaction by-products generated during the soak process from the process chamber, and repeating the tungsten deposition process and the soak process during a cyclic deposition process. In the examples, the reducing gas may contain diborane or silane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: XINLIANG LU, Ping Jian, Jong Hyun Yoo, Ken Kaung Lai, Alfred W. Mak, Robert L. Jackson, Ming Xi
  • Patent number: 7465665
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for forming a tungsten-containing material on a substrate is provided which includes forming a tungsten-containing layer by sequentially exposing a substrate to a processing gas and a tungsten-containing gas during an atomic layer deposition process, wherein the processing gas comprises a boron-containing gas and a nitrogen-containing gas, and forming a tungsten bulk layer over the tungsten-containing layer by exposing the substrate to a deposition gas comprising the tungsten-containing gas and a reactive precursor gas during a chemical vapor deposition process. In one example, the tungsten-containing layer and the tungsten bulk layer are deposited within the same processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Xi, Ashok Sinha, Moris Kori, Alfred W. Mak, Xinliang Lu, Ken Kaung Lai, Karl A. Littau
  • Publication number: 20080280438
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Inventors: Ken Kaung Lai, Ravi Rajagopalan, Amit Khandelwal, Madhu Moorthy, Srinivas Gandikota, Joseph Castro, Aygerinos V. Gelatos, Cheryl Knepfler, Ping Jian, Hongbin Fang, Chao-Ming Huang, Ming Xi, Michael X. Yang, Hua Chung, Jeong Soo Byun
  • Patent number: 7405158
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for forming a tungsten-containing layer on a substrate is provided which includes positioning a substrate containing a barrier layer disposed thereon in a process chamber, exposing the substrate to a first soak process for a first time period and depositing a nucleation layer on the barrier layer by flowing a tungsten-containing precursor and a reductant into the process chamber. The method further includes exposing the nucleation layer to a second soak process for a second time period and depositing a bulk layer on the nucleation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kaung Lai, Ravi Rajagopalan, Amit Khandelwal, Madhu Moorthy, Srinivas Gandikota, Joseph Castro, Averginos V. Gelatos, Cheryl Knepfler, Ping Jian, Hongbin Fang, Chao-Ming Huang, Ming Xi, Michael X. Yang, Hua Chung, Jeong Soo Byun