Patents by Inventor Kwangduk Douglas Lee

Kwangduk Douglas Lee 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: 20170062218
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits. More particularly, the implementations described herein provide techniques for deposition of boron-containing amorphous carbon films on a substrate with reduced particle contamination. In one implementation, the method comprises flowing a hydrocarbon-containing gas mixture into a processing volume having a substrate positioned therein, flowing a boron-containing gas mixture into the processing volume, stabilizing the pressure in the processing volume for a predefined RF-on delay time period, generating an RF plasma in the processing volume after the predefined RF-on delay time period expires to deposit a boron-containing amorphous film on the substrate, exposing the processing volume of the process chamber to a dry cleaning process and depositing an amorphous boron season layer over at least one surface in the processing volume of the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Ziqing DUAN, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Abdul Aziz KHAJA, Amit Kumar BANSAL, Bok Hoen KIM, Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA
  • Publication number: 20160307752
    Abstract: Methods for modulating local stress and overlay error of one or more patterning films may include modulating a gas flow profile of gases introduced into a chamber body, flowing gases within the chamber body toward a substrate, rotating the substrate, and unifying a center-to-edge temperature profile of the substrate by controlling the substrate temperature with a dual zone heater. A chamber for depositing a film may include a chamber body comprising one or more processing regions. The chamber body may include a gas distribution assembly having a blocker plate for delivering gases into the one or more processing regions. The blocker plate may have a first region and a second region, and the first region and second region each may have a plurality of holes. The chamber body may have a dual zone heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Sudha RATHI, Praket P. JHA, Saptarshi BASU, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Martin J. SEAMONS, Bok Hoen KIM, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Ziqing DUAN, Lei JING, Mandar B. PANDIT
  • Patent number: 9390910
    Abstract: Methods for modulating local stress and overlay error of one or more patterning films may include modulating a gas flow profile of gases introduced into a chamber body, flowing gases within the chamber body toward a substrate, rotating the substrate, and unifying a center-to-edge temperature profile of the substrate by controlling the substrate temperature with a dual zone heater. A chamber for depositing a film may include a chamber body comprising one or more processing regions. The chamber body may include a gas distribution assembly having a blocker plate for delivering gases into the one or more processing regions. The blocker plate may have a first region and a second region, and the first region and second region each may have a plurality of holes. The chamber body may have a dual zone heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Prashant Kumar Kulshreshtha, Sudha Rathi, Praket P. Jha, Saptarshi Basu, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Martin J. Seamons, Bok Hoen Kim, Ganesh Balasubramanian, Ziqing Duan, Lei Jing, Mandar B. Pandit
  • Publication number: 20160133443
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods of dry stripping boron-carbon films. In one embodiment, alternating plasmas of hydrogen and oxygen are used to remove a boron-carbon film. In another embodiment, co-flowed oxygen and hydrogen plasma is used to remove a boron-carbon containing film. A nitrous oxide plasma may be used in addition to or as an alternative to either of the above oxygen plasmas. In another embodiment, a plasma generated from water vapor is used to remove a boron-carbon film. The boron-carbon removal processes may also include an optional polymer removal process prior to removal of the boron-carbon films. The polymer removal process includes exposing the boron-carbon film to NF3 to remove from the surface of the boron-carbon film any carbon-based polymers generated during a substrate etching process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Sudha RATHI, Ramprakash SANKARAKRISHNAN, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Irfan JAMIL, Bok Hoen KIM
  • Publication number: 20160099147
    Abstract: Methods for modulating local stress and overlay error of one or more patterning films may include modulating a gas flow profile of gases introduced into a chamber body, flowing gases within the chamber body toward a substrate, rotating the substrate, and unifying a center-to-edge temperature profile of the substrate by controlling the substrate temperature with a dual zone heater. A chamber for depositing a film may include a chamber body comprising one or more processing regions. The chamber body may include a gas distribution assembly having a blocker plate for delivering gases into the one or more processing regions. The blocker plate may have a first region and a second region, and the first region and second region each may have a plurality of holes. The chamber body may have a dual zone heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: April 7, 2016
    Inventors: Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Sudha RATHI, Praket P. JHA, Saptarshi BASU, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Martin J. SEAMONS, Bok Hoen KIM, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Ziqing DUAN, Lei JING, Mandar B. PANDIT
  • Patent number: 9299581
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods of dry stripping boron-carbon films. In one embodiment, alternating plasmas of hydrogen and oxygen are used to remove a boron-carbon film. In another embodiment, co-flowed oxygen and hydrogen plasma is used to remove a boron-carbon containing film. A nitrous oxide plasma may be used in addition to or as an alternative to either of the above oxygen plasmas. In another embodiment, a plasma generated from water vapor is used to remove a boron-carbon film. The boron-carbon removal processes may also include an optional polymer removal process prior to removal of the boron-carbon films. The polymer removal process includes exposing the boron-carbon film to NF3 to remove from the surface of the boron-carbon film any carbon-based polymers generated during a substrate etching process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Sudha Rathi, Ramprakash Sankarakrishnan, Martin Jay Seamons, Irfan Jamil, Bok Hoen Kim
  • Publication number: 20160064264
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for methods and apparatuses for increasing the breakdown voltage while substantially reducing the voltage leakage of an electrostatic chuck at temperatures exceeding about 300 degrees Celsius in a processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Prashant KULSHRESHTHA, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Bok Hoen KIM, Zheng John YE, Swayambhu Prasad BEHERA, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Juan Carlos ROCHA-ALVAREZ, Jian J. CHEN
  • Publication number: 20160064209
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods of dry stripping boron-carbon films. In one embodiment, alternating plasmas of hydrogen and oxygen are used to remove a boron-carbon film. In another embodiment, co-flowed oxygen and hydrogen plasma is used to remove a boron-carbon containing film. A nitrous oxide plasma may be used in addition to or as an alternative to either of the above oxygen plasmas. In another embodiment, a plasma generated from water vapor is used to remove a boron-carbon film. The boron-carbon removal processes may also include an optional polymer removal process prior to removal of the boron-carbon films. The polymer removal process includes exposing the boron-carbon film to NF3 to remove from the surface of the boron-carbon film any carbon-based polymers generated during a substrate etching process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Sudha RATHI, Ramprakash SANKARAKRISHNAN, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Irfan JAMIL, Bok Hoen KIM
  • Publication number: 20160049323
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electrostatic chuck for maintaining a flatness of a substrate being processed in a plasma reactor at high temperatures. In one embodiment, the electrostatic chuck comprises a chuck body coupled to a support stem, the chuck body having a substrate supporting surface, and the chuck body has a volume resistivity value of about 1×107 ohm-cm to about 1×1015 ohm-cm in a temperature of about 250° C. to about 700° C., and an electrode embedded in the body, the electrode is coupled to a power supply. In one example, the chuck body is composed of an aluminum nitride material which has been observed to be able to optimize chucking performance around 600° C. or above during a deposition or etch process, or any other process that employ both high operating temperature and substrate clamping features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Zheng John YE, Jay D. PINSON, II, Hiroji HANAWA, Jianhua ZHOU, Xing LIN, Ren-Guan DUAN, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Bok Hoen KIM, Swayambhu P. BEHERA, Sungwon HA, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Juan Carlos ROCHA- ALVAREZ, Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Jason K. FOSTER, Mukund SRINIVASAN, Uwe P. HALLER, Hari K. PONNEKANTI
  • Publication number: 20150371851
    Abstract: Methods for forming an amorphous carbon layer with desired film mechanical strength low film stress as well as optical film properties are provided. In one embodiment, a method of forming an amorphous carbon layer includes forming a plasma of a deposition gas mixture including a hydrocarbon gas supplied in a processing chamber by application of a RF source power, applying a low frequency RF bias power and a high frequency RF bias power to a first electrode disposed in the processing chamber, controlling a power ratio of the high frequency to the low frequency RF bias power, and forming an amorphous carbon layer on a substrate disposed in the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Wonseok LEE, Martin Jay SEAMONS
  • Publication number: 20150247237
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to a faceplate for improving film uniformity. A semiconductor processing apparatus includes a pedestal, an edge ring and a faceplate having distinct regions with differing hole densities. The faceplate has an inner region and an outer region which surrounds the inner region. The inner region has a greater density of holes formed therethrough when compared to the outer region. The inner region is sized to correspond with a substrate being processed while the outer region is sized to correspond with the edge ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Sungwon HA, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Juan Carlos ROCHA-ALVAREZ, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Ziqing DUAN, Zheng John YE, Bok Hoen KIM, Lei JING, Ngoc LE, Ndanka MUKUTI
  • Publication number: 20150228463
    Abstract: Methods for cleaning a processing chamber to remove amorphous carbon containing residuals from the processing chamber are provided. The cleaning process utilizes a low frequency RF bias power during the cleaning process. In one embodiment, a method of cleaning a processing chamber includes supplying a cleaning gas mixture into a processing chamber, applying a RF bias power of about 2 MHz or lower to a substrate support assembly disposed in the processing chamber to form a plasma in the cleaning gas mixture in the processing chamber, and removing deposition residuals from the processing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Pramit MANNA, Prashant Kumar KULSHRESHTHA, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Abhijit Basu MALLICK, Bok Hoen KIM, Mukund SRINIVASAN
  • Publication number: 20150136325
    Abstract: A system for modifying the uniformity pattern of a thin film deposited in a plasma processing chamber includes a single radio-frequency (RF) power source that is coupled to multiple points on the discharge electrode of the plasma processing chamber. Positioning of the multiple coupling points, a power distribution between the multiple coupling points, or a combination of both are selected to at least partially compensate for a consistent non-uniformity pattern of thin films produced by the chamber. The power distribution between the multiple coupling points may be produced by an appropriate RF phase difference between the RF power applied at each of the multiple coupling points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Zheng John YE, Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Thuy BRICHER, Jay D. PINSON, II, Hiroji HANAWA, Juan Carlos ROCHA-ALVAREZ, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Bok Hoen KIM, Sungwon HA
  • Patent number: 8993454
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits and particularly to the deposition of a boron containing amorphous carbon layer on a semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, a boron-containing amorphous carbon film is disclosed. The boron-containing amorphous carbon film comprises from about 10 to 60 atomic percentage of boron, from about 20 to about 50 atomic percentage of carbon, and from about 10 to about 30 atomic percentage of hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Jay Seamons, Sudha Rathi, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Deenesh Padhi, Bok Hoen Kim, Chiu Chan
  • Publication number: 20140273461
    Abstract: Methods for forming a hydrogen implanted amorphous carbon layer with desired film mechanical strength as well as optical film properties are provided. In one embodiment, a method of a hydrogen implanted amorphous carbon layer includes providing a substrate having a material layer disposed thereon, forming an amorphous carbon layer on the material layer, and ion implanting hydrogen ions from a hydrogen containing gas into the amorphous carbon layer to form a hydrogen implanted amorphous carbon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Matthew D. SCOTNEY-CASTLE, Martin A. HILKENE, Ludovic GODET
  • Publication number: 20140216498
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods of dry stripping boron-carbon films. In one embodiment, alternating plasmas of hydrogen and oxygen are used to remove a boron-carbon film. In another embodiment, co-flowed oxygen and hydrogen plasma is used to remove a boron-carbon containing film. A nitrous oxide plasma may be used in addition to or as an alternative to either of the above oxygen plasmas. In another embodiment, a plasma generated from water vapor is used to remove a boron-carbon film. The boron-carbon removal processes may also include an optional polymer removal process prior to removal of the boron-carbon films. The polymer removal process includes exposing the boron-carbon film to NF3 to remove from the surface of the boron-carbon film any carbon-based polymers generated during a substrate etching process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Sudha RATHI, Ramprakash SANKARAKRISHNAN, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Irfan JAMIL, Bok Hoen KIM
  • Publication number: 20140017897
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits and particularly to the deposition of a boron containing amorphous carbon layer on a semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, a boron-containing amorphous carbon film is disclosed. The boron-containing amorphous carbon film comprises from about 10 to 60 atomic percentage of boron, from about 20 to about 50 atomic percentage of carbon, and from about 10 to about 30 atomic percentage of hydrogen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Martin Jay SEAMONS, Sudha RATHI, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Deenesh PADHI, Bok Hoen KIM, Chiu CHAN
  • Publication number: 20130284090
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for depositing uniform boron-containing films are disclosed. A first precursor is delivered to a chamber through a first pathway having a first flow controller and a composition sensor. A second precursor is delivered by a second pathway, including a second flow controller, to a mixing point fluidly coupling the first and second pathways. A controller is coupled to the vibration sensor and the first and second flow controllers. The first precursor may be a mixture of diborane and a diluent gas, and the second precursor is typically a diluent gas. The flow rate of the first precursor may be set by determining a concentration of diborane in the first precursor from the composition sensor reading, and setting the flow rate to maintain a desired flow rate of diborane. The flow rate of the second precursor may be set to maintain a desired flow to the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Ganesh BALASUBRAMANIAN, Martin Jay SEAMONS, Kaushik ALAYAVALLI, Kwangduk Douglas LEE, Wendy H. YEH, Sudha RATHI, Krishna VIJAYARAGHAVAN, Chiu CHAN
  • Patent number: 8560134
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a home energy management platform. The platform includes using a whole house power sensor or subset thereof. Data from the power sensor are analyzed using advanced statistical and machine learning techniques for extracting detailed usage information and generating specific energy saving measures, among other relevant information. In an embodiment, a gateway console is provided that has various communication capabilities. The gateway console may communicate with and control HAN devices. The gateway console may collect data from the power sensor as well as HAN devices and upload such collected data to servers for the analysis processing. Certain amounts of data processing and analysis may be performed at a server or at the local level, such as at the power sensor, gateway, or other HAN device, as well. The platform may include a user interface, such as web, mobile, email, mail, phone call, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Inventor: Kwangduk Douglas Lee
  • Patent number: 8536065
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to the fabrication of integrated circuits and particularly to the deposition of a boron containing amorphous carbon layer on a semiconductor substrate. In one embodiment, a method of processing a substrate in a processing chamber is provided. The method comprises providing a substrate in a processing volume, flowing a hydrocarbon containing gas mixture into the processing volume, generating a plasma of the hydrocarbon containing gas mixture by applying power from an RF source, flowing a boron containing gas mixture into the processing volume, and depositing a boron containing amorphous carbon film on the substrate in the presence of the plasma, wherein the boron containing amorphous carbon film contains from about 30 to about 60 atomic percentage of boron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Jay Seamons, Sudha Rathi, Kwangduk Douglas Lee, Deenesh Padhi, Bok Hoen Kim, Chiu Chan