Patents by Inventor Michael R. Rice

Michael R. Rice 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).

  • Publication number: 20240117491
    Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus for coating a plurality of gas lines are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for coating a plurality of gas lines via an ALD process includes: an oven having an enclosure that defines an interior volume configured to house the plurality of gas lines, the enclosure having a door configured for transferring the plurality of gas lines into and out of the interior volume; a plurality of inlet ports disposed through a first wall of the enclosure; a plurality of exhaust ports disposed through a second wall of the enclosure; a fluid panel disposed outside of the oven and coupled to the plurality of inlet ports via corresponding ones of a plurality of fluid distribution assemblies; and a foreline disposed outside of the oven and coupled to the plurality of exhaust ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Hanish Kumar PANAVALAPPIL KUMARANKUTTY, Yogesh TOMAR, Nikshep M. PATIL, Hari Venkatesh RAJENDRAN, Kirubanandan Naina SHANMUGAM, Gayatri NATU, Mahesh ARCOT, Senthil Kumar NATTAMAI SUBRAMANIAN, Steven D. MARCUS, Michael R. RICE
  • Patent number: 11782404
    Abstract: A system comprises a factory interface (FI) comprising an FI chamber and a carrier purge chamber, the FI configured to receive a substrate carrier that becomes coupled to the FI such that the carrier purge chamber is positioned between the FI chamber and the substrate carrier, the substrate carrier comprising a carrier door. The system further comprises an environmental control system coupled to at least one of the FI chamber or the carrier purge chamber and configured to couple to the substrate carrier, the environmental control system operable to separately control environmental conditions within at least one of: the carrier purge chamber and the substrate carrier; the carrier purge chamber and the FI chamber; or the FI chamber and the substrate carrier, while the carrier door of the substrate carrier is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Dean C. Hruzek
  • Publication number: 20230288916
    Abstract: Apparatus for extending substrate queue time for hybrid bonding by preserving plasma activation. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include an environmentally controllable space with a support for holding a die or a substrate, a gas velocity accelerator that recirculates one or more gases laterally across the support, a filter, a humidifier apparatus that is fluidly connected to the environmentally controllable space, wherein the humidifier apparatus enables controllable humidity levels within the environmentally controllable space, a pressurizing apparatus fluidly connected to the humidifier apparatus on an output and fluidly connected to at least one gas supply on an input, a relative humidity (RH) sensor positioned within the environmentally controllable space, and an environment controller in communication with at least the humidifier apparatus and the RH sensor, wherein the environment controller is configured to maintain an RH level of approximately 80% to approximately 95%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Ying WANG, Xundong DAI, Guan Huei SEE, Ruiping WANG, Michael R. RICE, Hari Kishen PONNEKANTI, Nirmalya MAITY
  • Publication number: 20230286867
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to articles, coated articles and methods of coating such articles with a rare earth metal containing oxide coating. A method of co-depositing a rare earth metal containing oxide coating on a surface of an article is disclosed. The method includes contacting the article surface with a first or second metal containing precursor to form a partial metal adsorption layer of a first metal or a second metal. The method further includes contacting the partial metal adsorption layer with the first or second metal containing precursor to form a co-adsorption layer of the first metal and the second metal. The method further includes contacting the co-adsorption layer with a reactant to form the rare earth metal containing oxide coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Publication number: 20230268218
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a substrate support assembly having a ground electrode mesh disposed therein along a side surface of the substrate support assembly. The substrate support assembly has a body. The body has an outer top surface, an outer side surface and an outer bottom surface enclosing an interior of the body. The body has a ground electrode mesh disposed in the interior of the body and adjacent the outer side surface, wherein the ground electrode does not extend through to the outer top surface or the outer side surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Michael R. RICE, Vijay D. PARKHE
  • Publication number: 20230207354
    Abstract: A platform is of a side storage pod. The platform includes an upper surface and kinematic pins extending from the upper surface within a chamber of the side storage pod to engage a lower surface of a side storage container in the chamber to level the side storage container in the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Devendra Channappa Holeyannavar, Sandesh Doddamane Ramappa, Dean C. Hruzek, Michael R. Rice, Jeffrey A. Brodine
  • Publication number: 20230197495
    Abstract: Embodiments of substrate supports for use in substrate processing chambers are provided herein. In some embodiments, a substrate support for use in a substrate processing chamber includes: a pedestal having a first side configured to support a substrate and a second side opposite the first side; a plurality of substrate lift pins extending through the pedestal, wherein a plurality of first gaps are disposed between the plurality of substrate lift pins and respective ones of a plurality of substrate lift pin openings in the pedestal; and vacuum lines that extend from the plurality of substrate lift pin openings and that are configured to pump down the plurality of substrate lift pin openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: James David CARDUCCI, Kenneth S. COLLINS, Michael R. RICE, Kartik RAMASWAMY, Silverst Antony RODRIGUES, Yang YANG
  • Publication number: 20230187239
    Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for integrating load locks into a factory interface footprint space. A factory interface for an electronic device manufacturing system can include an interior volume defined by a bottom, a top and a plurality of sides, a load lock disposed within the interior volume of the factory interface, and a factory interface robot disposed within the interior volume of the factory interface, wherein the factory interface robot is configured to transfer substrates between a set of substrate carriers and the load lock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Jacob Newman, Andrew J. Constant, Michael R. Rice, Paul B. Reuter, Shay Assaf, Sushant S. Koshti
  • Patent number: 11667575
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to articles, coated articles and methods of coating such articles with a rare earth metal containing oxide coating. The coating can contain at least a first metal (e.g., a rare earth metal, tantalum, zirconium, etc.) and a second metal that have been co-deposited onto a surface of the article. The coating can include a homogenous mixture of the first metal and the second metal and does not contain mechanical segregation between layers in the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaowei Wu, Jennifer Y. Sun, Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 11640917
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a substrate support assembly having a ground electrode mesh disposed therein along a side surface of the substrate support assembly. The substrate support assembly has a body. The body has an outer top surface, an outer side surface and an outer bottom surface enclosing an interior of the body. The body has a ground electrode mesh disposed in the interior of the body and adjacent the outer side surface, wherein the ground electrode does not extend through to the outer top surface or the outer side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Vijay D. Parkhe
  • Publication number: 20230113673
    Abstract: A factory interface for an electronic device manufacturing system can include a load lock disposed within the interior volume of a factory interface and a factory interface robot disposed within the interior volume of the factory interface. The factory interface robot can be configured to transfer substrates between a first set of substrate carriers and the first load lock. The factory interface robot can comprise a vertical tower, a plurality of links, and an end effector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: April 13, 2023
    Inventors: Sushant S. Koshti, Paul B. Reuter, David Phillips, Jacob Newman, Andrew J. Constant, Michael R. Rice, Shay Assaf, Srinivas Poshatrahalli Gopalakrishna, Devendra Channappa Holeyannavar, Douglas B. Baumgarten, Arunkumar Ramachandraiah, Narayanan Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 11621182
    Abstract: An equipment front end module (EFEM) includes sidewalls forming an EFEM chamber configured to receive inert gas from an inert gas supply. The sidewalls include a first sidewall configured to attach to a panel first side of a panel. The panel forms a panel opening extending between the panel first side and a panel second side. The panel second side is configured to attach to a side storage pod. The EFEM further includes a robot disposed in the EFEM chamber. The robot is configured to transfer substrates from the EFEM chamber into the side storage pod via the panel opening. An exhaust conduit is coupled to the side storage pod to exhaust gas from the side storage pod to an exterior of the side storage pod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Devendra Channappa Holeyannavar, Sandesh Doddamane Ramappa, Dean C. Hruzek, Michael R. Rice, Jeffrey A. Brodine
  • Publication number: 20230074149
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for coating processing reactor component parts are provided herein. In some embodiments, a part coating reactor includes: a lower body and a lid assembly that together define and enclose an interior volume; one or more heaters disposed in the lid assembly; one or more coolant channels disposed in the lid assembly to flow a heat transfer medium therethrough; a plurality of gas passages disposed through the lid assembly to facilitate providing one or more gases to the interior volume, wherein the plurality of gas passages include a plurality of fluidly independent plenums disposed in the lid assembly; and one or more mounting brackets to facilitate coupling a workpiece to the lid assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Michael R. RICE, Hanish Kumar PANAVALAPPIL KUMARANKUTTY, Steven D. MARCUS, Kirubanandan Naina SHANMUGAM, Sriharsha DHARMAPURA SATHYANARAYANAMURTHY, Madhukar KRISHNA, Shivaprakash Padadayya HIREMATH, Senthil Kumar NATTAMAI SUBRAMANIAN, Sankar Menon CHERUBALA PATHAYAPURA
  • Publication number: 20230057145
    Abstract: A plasma treatment chamber comprises one or more sidewalls and a support surface within the sidewalls holds a workpiece. An array of individual gas injectors is distributed about the sidewalls. Pump ports are along the sidewalls to eject gas from the chamber. Aa etch rate uniformity of a material on the workpiece is controlled by: using the array gas injectors to inject one or more gas flows in across the workpiece; injecting a first gas flow from a first set of adjacent individual gas injectors to etch the materials on the workpiece; and simultaneously injecting a second gas flow from remaining gas injectors. The second gas flow either dilutes the first gas flow to reduce an area on the workpiece having a faster etch rate, or acts as an additional etchant to increase the etch rate in the area of the workpiece having the faster etch rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: DAISUKE SHIMIZU, Kenji Takeshita, James D. Carducci, Li Ling, Hikaru Watanabe, Kenneth S. Collins, Michael R. Rice
  • Patent number: 11581203
    Abstract: The disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods for integrating load locks into a factory interface footprint space. A factory interface for an electronic device manufacturing system can include an interior volume defined by a bottom, a top and a plurality of sides, a first load lock disposed within the interior volume of the factory interface, and a first factory interface robot disposed within the interior volume of the factory interface, wherein the first factory interface robot is configured to transfer substrates between a first set of substrate carriers and the first load lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Newman, Andrew J. Constant, Michael R. Rice, Paul B. Reuter, Shay Assaf, Sushant S. Koshti
  • Publication number: 20230023764
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for surface profiling and texturing of chamber components for use in a process chamber, such surface-profiled or textured chamber components, and method of use of same are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes measuring a parameter of a reference substrate or a heated pedestal using one or more sensors and modifying a surface of a chamber component physically based on the measured parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: David W. GROECHEL, Michael R. RICE, Gang Grant PENG, Rui CHENG, Zubin HUANG, Han WANG, Karthik JANAKIRAMAN, Diwakar KEDLAYA, Paul L. BRILLHART, Abdul Aziz KHAJA
  • Patent number: D973116
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Michael C. Kuchar, Travis Morey, Adam J. Wyatt, Ofer Amir
  • Patent number: D973737
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Michael C. Kuchar, Travis Morey, Adam J. Wyatt, Ofer Amir
  • Patent number: D991994
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Michael C. Kuchar, Travis Morey, Adam J. Wyatt, Ofer Amir
  • Patent number: D992611
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Rice, Michael C. Kuchar, Travis Morey, Adam J. Wyatt, Ofer Amir