Patents by Inventor Kenric Choi
Kenric Choi 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: 20240360561Abstract: An system, method and software for controlling processes of an auto-refill system of an ampoule including one or more sensors configured to determine one or more liquid level heights within the ampoule. The auto-refill system having a state machine configured to control the auto-refill system, the state machine having one or more states for refilling the ampoule.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2024Publication date: October 31, 2024Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Zohreh Razavi Hesabi, Cong Trinh, Kevin Griffin, Alexander V. Garachtchenko, Kenric Choi, Vipin Jose, Saloni Sawalkar, Maribel Maldonado-Garcia, Kendrick H. Chaney
-
Patent number: 12084771Abstract: An system, method and software for controlling processes of an auto-refill system of an ampoule including one or more sensors configured to determine one or more liquid level heights within the ampoule. The auto-refill system having a state machine configured to control the auto-refill system, the state machine having one or more states for refilling the ampoule.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2021Date of Patent: September 10, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Zohreh Razavi Hesabi, Cong Trinh, Kevin Griffin, Alexander V. Garachtchenko, Kenric Choi, Vipin Jose, Saloni Sawalkar, Maribel Maldonado-Garcia, Kendrick H. Chaney
-
Patent number: 11753715Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying a vapor to a processing chamber are described. The vapor delivery apparatus comprises an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, each with two valves, in fluid communication with an ampoule. A bypass conduit connects the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit. A flow restrictive device restricts flow through the outlet conduit.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kenric Choi, William J. Durand
-
Patent number: 11628456Abstract: Ampoules for a semiconductor manufacturing precursors and methods of use are described. The ampoules include a container with an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a showerhead that the end within the container. The showerhead has at least two angled nozzles to direct the flow of gas within the cavity so that the gas flow is not perpendicular to the surface of a liquid within the ampoule.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
-
Patent number: 11566327Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reduce pressure fluctuations in a chemical delivery system for a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a chemical delivery system for a process chamber, includes: a carrier gas supply; an ampoule fluidly coupled to the carrier gas supply via a first supply line, wherein the ampoule is configured to supply one or more process gases to the process chamber via a second supply line; an inlet valve disposed in line with the first supply line to control a flow of a carrier gas from the carrier gas supply to the ampoule; and a first control valve disposed in line with a pressure regulation line, wherein the pressure regulation line is fluidly coupled to the first supply line at a tee location between the carrier gas supply and the inlet valve.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Ilker Durukan, Muhammad M. Rasheed, Kenric Choi, Tatsuya Sato
-
Publication number: 20220411924Abstract: Ampoules for a semiconductor manufacturing precursors and methods of use are described. The ampoules include a container with an inlet port and an outlet port. Alternating first and second elongate walls in the container are arranged to define longitudinal flow channels containing a precursor material, and alternating first and second passages between each of the longitudinal flow channels permitting fluid communication between adjacent longitudinal flow channels, wherein the first passages are located in a lower portion of the precursor cavity and the second passages are located an upper portion of the cavity. A flow path is defined by the longitudinal flow channels and the passages, through which a carrier gas flows in contact with the precursor material. In one or more embodiments, the precursor material is a solid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: William J. Durand, Kenric Choi, Garry K. Kwong
-
Publication number: 20220328285Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing a substrate are provided herein. For example, a gas supply configured for use with a processing chamber includes an ampoule that stores a precursor and comprises an input to receive a carrier gas and an output to provide a mixture of the carrier gas and the precursor to the processing chamber and a sensor assembly comprising a detector and an infrared source operably connected to an outside of an enclosure, through which the mixture flows, and a gas measurement volume disposed within the enclosure and along an inner wall thereof so that a concentration of the precursor in the mixture can be measured by the detector and transmitted to a controller.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2021Publication date: October 13, 2022Inventors: Abdullah ZAFAR, William John DURAND, Xinyuan CHONG, Kenric CHOI, Weize HU, Kelvin CHAN, Amir BAYATI, Michelle SANPEDRO, Philip A. KRAUS, Adolph Miller ALLEN
-
Publication number: 20220282379Abstract: An system, method and software for controlling processes of an auto-refill system of an ampoule including one or more sensors configured to determine one or more liquid level heights within the ampoule. The auto-refill system having a state machine configured to control the auto-refill system, the state machine having one or more states for refilling the ampoule.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2021Publication date: September 8, 2022Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Zohreh Razavi Hesabi, Cong Trinh, Kevin Griffin, Alexander V. Garachtchenko, Kenric Choi, Vipin Jose, Saloni Sawalkar, Maribel Maldonado-Garcia, Kendrick H. Chaney
-
Publication number: 20220162752Abstract: Methods and apparatus to reduce pressure fluctuations in a chemical delivery system for a process chamber are provided herein. In some embodiments, a chemical delivery system for a process chamber, includes: a carrier gas supply; an ampoule fluidly coupled to the carrier gas supply via a first supply line, wherein the ampoule is configured to supply one or more process gases to the process chamber via a second supply line; an inlet valve disposed in line with the first supply line to control a flow of a carrier gas from the carrier gas supply to the ampoule; and a first control valve disposed in line with a pressure regulation line, wherein the pressure regulation line is fluidly coupled to the first supply line at a tee location between the carrier gas supply and the inlet valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2020Publication date: May 26, 2022Inventors: Ilker DURUKAN, Muhammad M. RASHEED, Kenric CHOI, Tatsuya SATO
-
Publication number: 20210381104Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying a vapor to a processing chamber are described. The vapor delivery apparatus comprises an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit, each with two valves, in fluid communication with an ampoule. A bypass conduit connects the inlet conduit and the outlet conduit. A flow restrictive device restricts flow through the outlet conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: December 9, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kenric Choi, William J. Durand
-
Patent number: 11156494Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the liquid level of a canister are described. A magnetic field generated by a floating magnet within the canister is measured by a plurality of magnetic sensors outside of the canister. Methods of calibrating the magnetic sensors and measuring the location of the floating magnet are also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Oleg V. Serebryanov, Alexander Goldin, Kenric Choi
-
Publication number: 20210308703Abstract: Ampoules for a semiconductor manufacturing precursors and methods of use are described. The ampoules include a container with an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a showerhead that the end within the container. The showerhead has at least two angled nozzles to direct the flow of gas within the cavity so that the gas flow is not perpendicular to the surface of a liquid within the ampoule.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 17, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
-
Patent number: 11059061Abstract: Ampoules for a semiconductor manufacturing precursors and methods of use are described. The ampoules include a container with an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a showerhead that the end within the container. The showerhead has at least two angled nozzles to direct the flow of gas within the cavity so that the gas flow is not perpendicular to the surface of a liquid within the ampoule.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2018Date of Patent: July 13, 2021Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
-
Patent number: 10752990Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying a gas to a processing chamber are described. The apparatus comprises an inlet line and an outlet line, each with two valves, in fluid communication an ampoule. A bypass line connects the inlet valve and outlet valve closest to the ampoule. The apparatus and methods of use allow a precursor residue to be removed from the delivery lines of a processing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Daping Yao, Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Jiang Lu, Can Xu, Paul F. Ma, Mei Chang
-
Publication number: 20180250695Abstract: Ampoules for a semiconductor manufacturing precursors and methods of use are described. The ampoules include a container with an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a showerhead that the end within the container. The showerhead has at least two angled nozzles to direct the flow of gas within the cavity so that the gas flow is not perpendicular to the surface of a liquid within the ampoule.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2018Publication date: September 6, 2018Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
-
Patent number: 9856561Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying a gas to a processing chamber are described. The apparatus comprises an inlet line, an outlet line and a fill line in fluid communication an ampoule. The apparatus described, and methods of use, allow a precursor ampoule to be refilled during processing without removing or replacing the ampoule and interrupting the process.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Joseph Yudovsky, Kenric Choi
-
Publication number: 20170275754Abstract: Apparatus and methods for supplying a gas to a processing chamber are described. The apparatus comprises an inlet line and an outlet line, each with two valves, in fluid communication an ampoule. A bypass line connects the inlet valve and outlet valve closest to the ampoule. The apparatus and methods of use allow a precursor residue to be removed from the delivery lines of a processing chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2017Publication date: September 28, 2017Inventors: Daping Yao, Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Jiang Lu, Can Xu, Paul F. Ma, Mei Chang
-
Publication number: 20170160123Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the liquid level of a canister are described. A magnetic field generated by a floating magnet within the canister is measured by a plurality of magnetic sensors outside of the canister. Methods of calibrating the magnetic sensors and measuring the location of the floating magnet are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Oleg V. Serebryanov, Alexander Goldin, Kenric Choi
-
Patent number: 9347696Abstract: Apparatus for thermal management of a precursor for use in substrate processing are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for thermal management of a precursor for use in substrate processing may include a body having an opening sized to receive a storage container having a liquid or solid precursor disposed therein, the body fabricated from thermally conductive material; one or more thermoelectric devices coupled to the body proximate the opening; and a heat sink coupled to the one or more thermoelectric devices.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: David K. Carlson, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Kenric Choi, Marcel E. Josephson, Dennis Demars
-
Patent number: 9279604Abstract: Methods and apparatus for thermal management of a precursor for use in substrate processing are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for thermal management of a precursor for use in substrate processing may include a body having an opening sized to receive a storage container having a liquid or solid precursor disposed therein, the body fabricated from thermally conductive material; one or more thermoelectric devices coupled to the body proximate the opening; a heat sink coupled to the one or more thermoelectric devices; and a fan disposed proximate to a back side of the heat sink to provide a flow of air to the heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: David K. Carlson, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Kenric Choi, Marcel E. Josephson, Dennis Demars, Emre Cuvalci, Mehmet Tugrul Samir