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: 20240360561
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 31, 2024
    Applicant: 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: 12084771
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: 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: 11753715
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenric Choi, William J. Durand
  • Patent number: 11628456
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 11566327
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ilker Durukan, Muhammad M. Rasheed, Kenric Choi, Tatsuya Sato
  • Publication number: 20220411924
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Durand, Kenric Choi, Garry K. Kwong
  • Publication number: 20220328285
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: 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: 20220282379
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: 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: 20220162752
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Ilker DURUKAN, Muhammad M. RASHEED, Kenric CHOI, Tatsuya SATO
  • Publication number: 20210381104
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenric Choi, William J. Durand
  • Patent number: 11156494
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Oleg V. Serebryanov, Alexander Goldin, Kenric Choi
  • Publication number: 20210308703
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 11059061
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 10752990
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Daping Yao, Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Jiang Lu, Can Xu, Paul F. Ma, Mei Chang
  • Publication number: 20180250695
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Daping Yao, Mei Chang
  • Patent number: 9856561
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Yudovsky, Kenric Choi
  • Publication number: 20170275754
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Daping Yao, Kenric Choi, Xiaoxiong Yuan, Jiang Lu, Can Xu, Paul F. Ma, Mei Chang
  • Publication number: 20170160123
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Oleg V. Serebryanov, Alexander Goldin, Kenric Choi
  • Patent number: 9347696
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: David K. Carlson, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Kenric Choi, Marcel E. Josephson, Dennis Demars
  • Patent number: 9279604
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: David K. Carlson, Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Kenric Choi, Marcel E. Josephson, Dennis Demars, Emre Cuvalci, Mehmet Tugrul Samir