Patents by Inventor Martin E. Freeborn

Martin E. Freeborn 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: 10957514
    Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for performing deposition and etch processes in an integrated tool. An apparatus may include a plasma processing chamber that is a capacitively-coupled plasma reactor, and the plasma processing chamber can include a showerhead that includes a top electrode and a pedestal that includes a bottom electrode. The apparatus may be configured with an RF hardware configuration so that an RF generator may power the top electrode in a deposition mode and power the bottom electrode in an etch mode. In some implementations, the apparatus can include one or more switches so that at least an HFRF generator is electrically connected to the showerhead in a deposition mode, and the HFRF generator and an LFRF generator is electrically connected to the pedestal and the showerhead is grounded in the etch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Akhil Singhal, Patrick A. van Cleemput, Martin E. Freeborn, Bart J. van Schravendijk
  • Publication number: 20190385820
    Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for performing deposition and etch processes in an integrated tool. An apparatus may include a plasma processing chamber that is a capacitively-coupled plasma reactor, and the plasma processing chamber can include a showerhead that includes a top electrode and a pedestal that includes a bottom electrode. The apparatus may be configured with an RF hardware configuration so that an RF generator may power the top electrode in a deposition mode and power the bottom electrode in an etch mode. In some implementations, the apparatus can include one or more switches so that at least an HFRF generator is electrically connected to the showerhead in a deposition mode, and the HFRF generator and an LFRF generator is electrically connected to the pedestal and the showerhead is grounded in the etch mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: Akhil Singhal, Patrick A. van Cleemput, Martin E. Freeborn, Bart J. van Schravendijk
  • Patent number: 10373806
    Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for performing deposition and etch processes in an integrated tool. An apparatus may include a plasma processing chamber that is a capacitively-coupled plasma reactor, and the plasma processing chamber can include a showerhead that includes a top electrode and a pedestal that includes a bottom electrode. The apparatus may be configured with an RF hardware configuration so that an RF generator may power the top electrode in a deposition mode and power the bottom electrode in an etch mode. In some implementations, the apparatus can include one or more switches so that at least an HFRF generator is electrically connected to the showerhead in a deposition mode, and the HFRF generator and an LFRF generator is electrically connected to the pedestal and the showerhead is grounded in the etch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Akhil Singhal, Patrick A. Van Cleemput, Martin E. Freeborn, Bart J. van Schravendijk
  • Publication number: 20180005801
    Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for performing deposition and etch processes in an integrated tool. An apparatus may include a plasma processing chamber that is a capacitively-coupled plasma reactor, and the plasma processing chamber can include a showerhead that includes a top electrode and a pedestal that includes a bottom electrode. The apparatus may be configured with an RF hardware configuration so that an RF generator may power the top electrode in a deposition mode and power the bottom electrode in an etch mode. In some implementations, the apparatus can include one or more switches so that at least an HFRF generator is electrically connected to the showerhead in a deposition mode, and the HFRF generator and an LFRF generator is electrically connected to the pedestal and the showerhead is grounded in the etch mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: Akhil Singhal, Patrick A. Van Cleemput, Martin E. Freeborn, Bart J. van Schravendijk
  • Patent number: 9773643
    Abstract: Provided are apparatuses and methods for performing deposition and etch processes in an integrated tool. An apparatus may include a plasma processing chamber that is a capacitively-coupled plasma reactor, and the plasma processing chamber can include a showerhead that includes a top electrode and a pedestal that includes a bottom electrode. The apparatus may be configured with an RF hardware configuration so that an RF generator may power the top electrode in a deposition mode and power the bottom electrode in an etch mode. In some implementations, the apparatus can include one or more switches so that at least an HFRF generator is electrically connected to the showerhead in a deposition mode, and the HFRF generator and an LFRF generator is electrically connected to the pedestal and the showerhead is grounded in the etch mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Akhil Singhal, Patrick A. Van Cleemput, Martin E. Freeborn, Bart J. van Schravendijk
  • Publication number: 20150163860
    Abstract: A technique and apparatus are provided for supplying substantially uniform radiant heat energy to a semiconductor wafer in a load lock or process chamber using a light source and a set of radially-symmetric reflectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Vincent E. Burkhart, Yorkman Ma, Martin E. Freeborn, Ishtak Karim