Patents by Inventor Ken Nauman

Ken Nauman 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: 9150960
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for plasma-based sputtering deposition using a direct current power supply is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plasma is generated by connecting a plurality of electrodes to a supply of current, and a polarity of voltage applied to each of a plurality of electrodes in the processing chamber is periodically reversed so that at least one of the electrodes sputters material on to the substrate. And an amount of power that is applied to at least one of the plurality of electrodes is modulated so as to deposit the material on the stationary substrate with a desired characteristic. In some embodiments, the substrate is statically disposed in the chamber during processing. And many embodiments utilize feedback indicative of the state of the deposition to modulate the amount of power applied to one or more electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Nauman, Hendrik V. Walde, David J. Christie, Bruce Fries
  • Publication number: 20120171390
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for plasma-based sputtering deposition using a direct current power supply is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plasma is generated by connecting a plurality of electrodes to a supply of current, and a polarity of voltage applied to each of a plurality of electrodes in the processing chamber is periodically reversed so that at least one of the electrodes sputters material on to the substrate. And an amount of power that is applied to at least one of the plurality of electrodes is modulated so as to deposit the material on the stationary substrate with a desired characteristic. In some embodiments, the substrate is statically disposed in the chamber during processing. And many embodiments utilize feedback indicative of the state of the deposition to modulate the amount of power applied to one or more electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ken Nauman, Hendrik V. Walde, David J. Christie, Bruce Fries
  • Patent number: 8133359
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for plasma-based sputtering deposition using a direct current power supply is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plasma is generated by connecting a plurality of electrodes to a supply of current, and a polarity of voltage applied to each of a plurality of electrodes in the processing chamber is periodically reversed so that at least one of the electrodes sputters material on to the substrate. And an amount of power that is applied to at least one of the plurality of electrodes is modulated so as to deposit the material on the stationary substrate with a desired characteristic. In some embodiments, the substrate is statically disposed in the chamber during processing. And many embodiments utilize feedback indicative of the state of the deposition to modulate the amount of power applied to one or more electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Nauman, Hendrik V. Walde, David J. Christie, Bruce Fries
  • Publication number: 20090127101
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for plasma-based sputtering deposition using a direct current power supply is disclosed. In one embodiment, a plasma is generated by connecting a plurality of electrodes to a supply of current, and a polarity of voltage applied to each of a plurality of electrodes in the processing chamber is periodically reversed so that at least one of the electrodes sputters material on to the substrate. And an amount of power that is applied to at least one of the plurality of electrodes is modulated so as to deposit the material on the stationary substrate with a desired characteristic. In some embodiments, the substrate is statically disposed in the chamber during processing. And many embodiments utilize feedback indicative of the state of the deposition to modulate the amount of power applied to one or more electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Ken Nauman, Hendrik V. Walde, David J. Christie, Bruce Fries