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).

  • Patent number: 12163911
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Leonard Tedeschi, Michael D. Willwerth, Daniel Thomas McCormick
  • Patent number: 12130561
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kartik Ramaswamy, Michael D. Willwerth, Yang Yang
  • Publication number: 20240321610
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 12068135
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Ashley Mutsuo Okada, Michael D. Willwerth, Duc Dang Buckius, Jeffrey Ludwig, Aditi Mithun, Benjamin Schwarz
  • Patent number: 12009236
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20230343568
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Michael D. Willwerth, Leonard Tedeschi, Kiyki-Shiy N. Shang, Mikhail V. Taraboukhine, Charles R. Hardy, Sivasankar Nagarajan
  • Publication number: 20230258500
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Blake Erickson, Keith Berding, Michael Kutney, Zhaozhao Zhu, Tsung Feng Wu, Michael D. Willwerth, Jeffrey Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11668602
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake Erickson, Keith Berding, Michael Kutney, Zhaozhao Zhu, Tsung Feng Wu, Michael D. Willwerth, Jeffrey Ludwig
  • Publication number: 20230103165
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Michael D. Willwerth, Leonard Tedeschi, Kiyki-Shiy N. Shang, Mikhail V. Taraboukhine, Charles R. Hardy, Sivasankar Nagarajan
  • Publication number: 20230102933
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kartik RAMASWAMY, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Yang YANG
  • Patent number: 11581206
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 11551905
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 11545346
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20220341867
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Inventors: YAOLING PAN, PATRICK JOHN TAE, LEONARD TEDESCHI, MICHAEL D. WILLWERTH, DANIEL THOMAS MCCORMICK
  • Publication number: 20220333989
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Blake Erickson, Keith Berding, Michael Kutney, Zhaozhao Zhu, Tsung Feng Wu, Michael D. Willwerth, Jeffrey Ludwig
  • Patent number: 11448977
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Kartik Ramaswamy, Michael D. Willwerth, Yang Yang
  • Publication number: 20220262600
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Ming XU, Ashley Mutsuo OKADA, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Duc Dang BUCKIUS, Jeffrey LUDWIG, Aditi MITHUN, Benjamin SCHWARZ
  • Patent number: 11415538
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaoling Pan, Patrick John Tae, Leonard Tedeschi, Michael D. Willwerth, Daniel Thomas McCormick
  • Patent number: 11387135
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Roberto Cesar Cotlear, Michael D. Willwerth
  • Publication number: 20220157574
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Inventors: Benjamin SCHWARZ, Michael D. WILLWERTH, Aditi MITHUN, Prabhat KUMAR, Grace MATHEW, Andreas SCHMID