Patents by Inventor Meredith J. Williams

Meredith J. Williams 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: 6133152
    Abstract: An apparatus to isolate a rotating frame in a processing chamber, comprising: a support cylinder rotatably extending from the rotating frame; and a co-rotating edge ring extension extending from the support cylinder to at least one of substantially thermally, optically and mechanically isolate the region above the co-rotating edge ring extension from the region below the co-rotating edge ring extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bierman, Meredith J. Williams, David S. Ballance, Brian Haas, Paul Deaton, James V. Tietz
  • Patent number: 6123766
    Abstract: A method for controlling the temperature of a substrate in a processing chamber. The processing chamber employs a heating control over at least two heating zones. Each heating zone is independently controllable according to a measured signal corresponding to the substrate temperature and a user-definable offset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Meredith J. Williams, David S. Ballance, Benjamin Bierman, Paul Deaton, Brian Haas, Nobuyuki Takahashi, James V. Tietz
  • Patent number: 6048403
    Abstract: A substrate support, for example an edge ring, includes an upper ledge for supporting a first substrate, such as a semiconductor wafer, during a first process, and a lower ledge contiguous with the upper ledge for supporting a second substrate during a second process for cleaning the substrate support. A method of processing substrates supported by the edge ring in a thermal process chamber is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Deaton, Meredith J. Williams
  • Patent number: 6035100
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an apparatus for preventing depositions from occurring on a reflector in a processing chamber, comprising: a cover disposed adjacent to the reflector, the cover optically transparent over a range of wavelengths in which the reflector is reflective; and at least one cover support for maintaining the position of the cover relative to the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Bierman, David S. Ballance, James V. Tietz, Brian Haas, Meredith J. Williams, Paul Deaton
  • Patent number: 5960555
    Abstract: An apparatus for purging the backside of a substrate in a process chamber includes a purge gas injector. The injector includes a substantially annular-shaped opening providing a slit that is structured and arranged to direct a flow of purge gas about radially outward therefrom in a direction approximately parallel to a plane defined by the substrate, wherein the substrate is supported in the process chamber above the purge gas injector. When the substrate is rotated at a sufficient speed, the purge gas flowing from the injector is impelled to flow spirally outward along the backside of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Deaton, Benjamin Bierman, Meredith J. Williams, Brian Haas, David S. Ballance, James V. Tietz
  • Patent number: 5635718
    Abstract: A multi-module radiation detecting device, a radiation detecting module for incorporation in a multi-module radiation detecting device, and a method for assembling a multi-module radiation detecting device are provided. The radiation detecting module includes a carrier substrate and a radiation detecting tile mounted over the carrier substrate. The module includes interconnection structure for connecting radiation detecting elements in the radiation detecting tile to conductive contacts on a base substrate. The module facilitates attachment and detachment of the module relative to the base substrate and relative to a test fixture used in test and burn-in operations. The module is constructed to isolate the radiation detecting tile from thermal and/or mechanical stresses produced at the interconnection interface during attachment and detachment for test and burn-in, assembly, and rework operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James M. DePuydt, Nang T. Tran, James C. Brown, Thomas J. Staiger, John C. Dahlquist, Meredith J. Williams