Patents by Inventor Michael Lane Smith, Jr.

Michael Lane Smith, Jr. 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: 6805810
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process and, more specifically, to the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates to a plasma monitoring module that may be adjusted in at least some manner so as to re-evaluate a previously monitored plasma process. For instance, optical emissions data on a plasma process that was previously monitored by the plasma monitoring module may be replayed through the plasma monitoring module after making at least one adjustment in relation to the plasma monitoring module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Pamela Denise Peardon Ward, Joel O'Don Stevenson
  • Patent number: 6769288
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and assembly for leak detection in a plasma system. The invention can accomplish not only leak detection, but also leak location while maintaining a plasma within the plasma system. Leak detection for the invention is achieved by obtaining spectral data of the plasma at one or more times while maintaining the plasma within the plasma system and comparing the same to predetermined spectral data of air. Upon a determination that air is present within the plasma system, one or more external surfaces of the plasma system are exposed to a test gas and the spectral data of the plasma is analyzed after each exposure to determine if the test gas is present in the system. If the test gas is present, a determination can be made that the particular external surface to which the test gas was applied is a leak location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Peak Sensor Systems LLC
    Inventors: Pamela Peardon Denise Ward, Joel O'Don Stevenson, Michael Lane Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6419801
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6383402
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Pamela Denise Peardon Ward, Joel O'Don Stevenson
  • Patent number: 6275740
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6269278
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6261470
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6254717
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6246473
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6223755
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6221679
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6192826
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6169933
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6165312
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6157447
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6132577
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6134005
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6123983
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6090302
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward
  • Patent number: 6077386
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to various aspects of a plasma process, and more specifically the monitoring of such plasma processes. One aspect relates in at least some manner to calibrating or initializing a plasma monitoring assembly. This type of calibration may be used to address wavelength shifts, intensity shifts, or both associated with optical emissions data obtained on a plasma process. A calibration light may be directed at a window through which optical emissions data is being obtained to determine the effect, if any, that the inner surface of the window is having on the optical emissions data being obtained therethrough, the operation of the optical emissions data gathering device, or both. Another aspect relates in at least some manner to various types of evaluations which may be undertaken of a plasma process which was run, and more typically one which is currently being run, within the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Lane Smith, Jr., Joel O'Don Stevenson, Pamela Peardon Denise Ward