Patents by Inventor Michael D. Willwerth
Michael D. Willwerth 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).
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Patent number: 12163911Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a sensor assembly. In an embodiment, the sensor assembly comprises a sensor module and a housing assembly. In an embodiment, the sensor module comprises a substrate, a capacitor with a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate, and a capacitive-to-digital converter (CDC) electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. In an embodiment, the housing assembly is attached to the sensor module and comprises a shaft, wherein the shaft is hollow, and a cap over a first end of the shaft, wherein the cap has an opening to expose the capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2022Date of Patent: December 10, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Leonard Tedeschi, Michael D. Willwerth, Daniel Thomas McCormick
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Patent number: 12130561Abstract: Apparatus for processing substrates can include a gas distribution plate that includes an upper plate and a lower plate and a solid disk between the upper plate and the lower plate. Each of the upper plate and the lower plate has a central region and an outer region surrounding the central region, the central region being solid and the outer region having a plurality of through holes. The upper plate and the lower plate are coaxially aligned along a central axis extending through a center of the central region of the upper plate and a center of the central region of the lower plate. The solid disk is coaxially aligned with the upper plate and the lower plate. The solid disk is configured to block transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the solid disk.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2022Date of Patent: October 29, 2024Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Kartik Ramaswamy, Michael D. Willwerth, Yang Yang
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Publication number: 20240321610Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for determining a metric related to erosion of a ring assembly used in an etching within a plasma processing chamber. In one example, the apparatus is configured to obtain a metric indicative of erosion on an edge ring disposed on a substrate support assembly in a plasma processing chamber. A sensor obtains the metric for the edge ring. The metric correlates to the quantity of erosion in the edge ring. In another example, the ring sensor may be arranged outside of a periphery of a substrate support assembly. The metric may be acquired by the ring sensor through a plasma screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2024Publication date: September 26, 2024Inventors: Yaoling PAN, Patrick John TAE, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Leonard M. TEDESCHI, Daniel Sang BYUN, Philip Allan KRAUS, Phillip CRIMINALE, Changhun LEE, Rajinder DHINDSA, Andreas SCHMID, Denis M. KOOSAU
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Patent number: 12068135Abstract: A gas distribution apparatus is provided having a first reservoir with a first upstream end and a first downstream end and a second reservoir with a second upstream end and a second downstream end. A reservoir switch valve is in fluid communication with the first downstream end of the first reservoir and the second downstream end of the second reservoir. The reservoir switch valve operable to selectively couple the first reservoir to an outlet of the reservoir switch valve when in a first state, and couple the second reservoir to the outlet of the reservoir switch valve when in a second state. A plurality of proportional flow control valves are provided having inlets coupled in parallel to the outlet of the reservoir switch valve The plurality of proportional flow control valves have outlets configured to provide gas to a processing chamber.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2021Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Ming Xu, Ashley Mutsuo Okada, Michael D. Willwerth, Duc Dang Buckius, Jeffrey Ludwig, Aditi Mithun, Benjamin Schwarz
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Patent number: 12009236Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method and apparatus for determining a metric related to erosion of a ring assembly used in an etching within a plasma processing chamber. In one example, the apparatus is configured to obtain a metric indicative of erosion on an edge ring disposed on a substrate support assembly in a plasma processing chamber. A sensor obtains the metric for the edge ring. The metric correlates to the quantity of erosion in the edge ring. In another example, the ring sensor may be arranged outside of a periphery of a substrate support assembly. The metric may be acquired by the ring sensor through a plasma screen.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: June 11, 2024Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Michael D. Willwerth, Leonard M. Tedeschi, Daniel Sang Byun, Philip Allan Kraus, Phillip A. Criminale, Changhun Lee, Rajinder Dhindsa, Andreas Schmid, Denis M. Koosau
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Publication number: 20230343568Abstract: Capacitive sensors and capacitive sensing data integration for plasma chamber condition monitoring are described. In an example, a plasma chamber monitoring system includes a plurality of capacitive sensors, a capacitance digital converter, and an applied process server coupled to the capacitance digital converter, the applied process server including a system software. The capacitance digital converter includes an isolation interface coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors, a power supply coupled to the isolation interface, a field-programmable gate-array firmware coupled to the isolation interface, and an application-specific integrated circuit coupled to the field-programmable gate-array firmware.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Michael D. Willwerth, Leonard Tedeschi, Kiyki-Shiy N. Shang, Mikhail V. Taraboukhine, Charles R. Hardy, Sivasankar Nagarajan
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Publication number: 20230258500Abstract: An apparatus includes a base component and a plurality of collimators housed within the base component. Each collimator of the plurality of collimators corresponds to a respective location of a plurality of locations of a wafer in an etch chamber. The plurality of locations includes a center location of the wafer, a plurality of inner ring locations along an inner ring of the wafer associated with a first set of radially symmetric optical emission spectroscopy (OES) signal sampling paths, and a plurality of outer ring locations along an outer ring of the wafer associated with a second set of radially symmetric OES signal sampling paths.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2023Publication date: August 17, 2023Inventors: Blake Erickson, Keith Berding, Michael Kutney, Zhaozhao Zhu, Tsung Feng Wu, Michael D. Willwerth, Jeffrey Ludwig
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Patent number: 11668602Abstract: An apparatus includes a base component and collimators housed within the base component. The collimators correspond to collection cylinders for sampling optical emission spectroscopy (OES) signals with respect to locations of a wafer in an etch chamber. The apparatus further includes a guide, operatively coupled to the plurality of collimators, to guide the sampling of the OES signals along paths for sampling the OES signals.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Blake Erickson, Keith Berding, Michael Kutney, Zhaozhao Zhu, Tsung Feng Wu, Michael D. Willwerth, Jeffrey Ludwig
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Publication number: 20230103165Abstract: Capacitive sensors and capacitive sensing data integration for plasma chamber condition monitoring are described. In an example, a plasma chamber monitoring system includes a plurality of capacitive sensors, a capacitance digital converter, and an applied process server coupled to the capacitance digital converter, the applied process server including a system software. The capacitance digital converter includes an isolation interface coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors, a power supply coupled to the isolation interface, a field-programmable gate-array firmware coupled to the isolation interface, and an application-specific integrated circuit coupled to the field-programmable gate-array firmware.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Michael D. Willwerth, Leonard Tedeschi, Kiyki-Shiy N. Shang, Mikhail V. Taraboukhine, Charles R. Hardy, Sivasankar Nagarajan
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Publication number: 20230102933Abstract: Apparatus for processing substrates can include a gas distribution plate that includes an upper plate and a lower plate and a solid disk between the upper plate and the lower plate. Each of the upper plate and the lower plate has a central region and an outer region surrounding the central region, the central region being solid and the outer region having a plurality of through holes. The upper plate and the lower plate are coaxially aligned along a central axis extending through a center of the central region of the upper plate and a center of the central region of the lower plate. The solid disk is coaxially aligned with the upper plate and the lower plate. The solid disk is configured to block transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the solid disk.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2022Publication date: March 30, 2023Inventors: Kartik RAMASWAMY, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Yang YANG
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Patent number: 11581206Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein comprise a sensor. In an embodiment, the sensor comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite from the first surface. In an embodiment, the sensor further comprises a first electrode over the first surface of the substrate, and a second electrode over the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the first electrode. In an embodiment, the sensor further comprises a barrier layer over the first electrode and the second electrode.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Leonard Tedeschi, Jennifer Sun, Philip Allan Kraus, Xiaopu Li, Kallol Bera, Michael D. Willwerth, Albert Barrett Hicks, III, Lisa J. Enman, Mark Joseph Saly, Daniel Thomas McCormick
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Patent number: 11551905Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a resonant process monitor and methods of forming such a resonant process monitor. In an embodiment, the resonant process monitor includes a frame that has a first opening and a second opening. In an embodiment, a resonant body seals the first opening of the frame. In an embodiment, a first electrode on a first surface of the resonant body contacts the frame and a second electrode is on a second surface of the resonant body. Embodiments also include a back plate that seals the second opening of the frame. In an embodiment the back plate is mechanically coupled to the frame, and the resonant body, the back plate, and interior surfaces of the frame define a cavity.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2018Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Yaoling Pan, Vijaykumar Krithivasan, Shimin Mao, Kelvin Chan, Michael D. Willwerth, Anantha Subramani, Ashish Goel, Chih-shun Lu, Philip Allan Kraus, Patrick John Tae, Leonard Tedeschi
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Patent number: 11545346Abstract: Capacitive sensors and capacitive sensing data integration for plasma chamber condition monitoring are described. In an example, a plasma chamber monitoring system includes a plurality of capacitive sensors, a capacitance digital converter, and an applied process server coupled to the capacitance digital converter, the applied process server including a system software. The capacitance digital converter includes an isolation interface coupled to the plurality of capacitive sensors, a power supply coupled to the isolation interface, a field-programmable gate-array firmware coupled to the isolation interface, and an application-specific integrated circuit coupled to the field-programmable gate-array firmware.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Michael D. Willwerth, Leonard Tedeschi, Kiyki-Shiy N. Shang, Mikhail V. Taraboukhine, Charles R. Hardy, Sivasankar Nagarajan
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Publication number: 20220341867Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a sensor assembly. In an embodiment, the sensor assembly comprises a sensor module and a housing assembly. In an embodiment, the sensor module comprises a substrate, a capacitor with a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate, and a capacitive-to-digital converter (CDC) electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. In an embodiment, the housing assembly is attached to the sensor module and comprises a shaft, wherein the shaft is hollow, and a cap over a first end of the shaft, wherein the cap has an opening to expose the capacitor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2022Publication date: October 27, 2022Inventors: YAOLING PAN, PATRICK JOHN TAE, LEONARD TEDESCHI, MICHAEL D. WILLWERTH, DANIEL THOMAS MCCORMICK
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Publication number: 20220333989Abstract: An apparatus includes a base component and collimators housed within the base component. The collimators correspond to collection cylinders for sampling optical emission spectroscopy (OES) signals with respect to locations of a wafer in an etch chamber. The apparatus further includes a guide, operatively coupled to the plurality of collimators, to guide the sampling of the OES signals along paths for sampling the OES signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2021Publication date: October 20, 2022Inventors: Blake Erickson, Keith Berding, Michael Kutney, Zhaozhao Zhu, Tsung Feng Wu, Michael D. Willwerth, Jeffrey Ludwig
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Patent number: 11448977Abstract: Apparatus for processing substrates can include a gas distribution plate that includes an upper plate and a lower plate and a solid disk between the upper plate and the lower plate. Each of the upper plate and the lower plate has a central region and an outer region surrounding the central region, the central region being solid and the outer region having a plurality of through holes. The upper plate and the lower plate are coaxially aligned along a central axis extending through a center of the central region of the upper plate and a center of the central region of the lower plate. The solid disk is coaxially aligned with the upper plate and the lower plate. The solid disk is configured to block transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the solid disk.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2021Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.Inventors: Kartik Ramaswamy, Michael D. Willwerth, Yang Yang
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Publication number: 20220262600Abstract: A gas distribution apparatus is provided having a first reservoir with a first upstream end and a first downstream end and a second reservoir with a second upstream end and a second downstream end. A reservoir switch valve is in fluid communication with the first downstream end of the first reservoir and the second downstream end of the second reservoir. The reservoir switch valve operable to selectively couple the first reservoir to an outlet of the reservoir switch valve when in a first state, and couple the second reservoir to the outlet of the reservoir switch valve when in a second state. A plurality of proportional flow control valves are provided having inlets coupled in parallel to the outlet of the reservoir switch valve The plurality of proportional flow control valves have outlets configured to provide gas to a processing chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2021Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Ming XU, Ashley Mutsuo OKADA, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Duc Dang BUCKIUS, Jeffrey LUDWIG, Aditi MITHUN, Benjamin SCHWARZ
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Patent number: 11415538Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a sensor assembly. In an embodiment, the sensor assembly comprises a sensor module and a housing assembly. In an embodiment, the sensor module comprises a substrate, a capacitor with a first electrode and a second electrode on the substrate, and a capacitive-to-digital converter (CDC) electrically coupled to the first electrode and the second electrode. In an embodiment, the housing assembly is attached to the sensor module and comprises a shaft, wherein the shaft is hollow, and a cap over a first end of the shaft, wherein the cap has an opening to expose the capacitor.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Leonard Tedeschi, Michael D. Willwerth, Daniel Thomas McCormick
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Patent number: 11387135Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a lift pin assembly used for de-chucking substrates. The lift pin assembly includes a base and one or more lift pin holders. Each lift pin holder includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is coupled to the base by a metal connector and the second portion is coupled to the first portion by a metal connector. A resistor is disposed in the first portion of the lift pin holder. The second portion includes a lift pin support for supporting a lift pin. The lift pin, the lift pin support, and the metal connectors are electrically conductive. The base is connected to a reference voltage, such as the ground, forming a path for the residual electrostatic charge in the substrate from the substrate to the reference voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2017Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Roberto Cesar Cotlear, Michael D. Willwerth
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Publication number: 20220157574Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method and an apparatus for processing a substrate. The apparatus has a ring assembly. The ring assembly has an edge ring and a shadow ring. The edge ring has a ring shaped body. The edge ring body has a top surface and a bottom surface. Pin holes extend through the edge ring body from the top surface to the bottom surface. The shadow ring has a ring shaped body. The shadow ring body has an upper surface and a lower surface. Sockets are formed on the lower surface, wherein the sockets in the shadow ring body align with the pin holes in the edge ring body.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Benjamin SCHWARZ, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Aditi MITHUN, Prabhat KUMAR, Grace MATHEW, Andreas SCHMID